Infected

Chapter 6 :Something Akin to a Date

Something Akin to a Date

"Gaaarraaa!" Temari shouted.

Gaara turned around wondering what his sister was so riled up about. Temari speed towards him grabbing onto the front of his shirt and shook him violently. Why do I feel girls are messing with me lately?

"S-something wrong Temari?" Gaara asked confused.

"Wrong?! Nooo, not at all. It's not a problem at all that the Kazekage is heading out of the village during a crisis with a woman from who knows where!" Temari's voice dripped with sarcasm.

Gaara scratched his head, confused, "Um, it's not? Well, then I'll see you this afternoon when we get back."

Temari released him and ran her fingers thru her hair, "Learn sarcasm already!"

Gaara frowned and crossed his arms, "It is a problem? Why? I told you why I was going."

"No, you told me you were basically forced to go even though any other Ninja would do," Temari clenched her fist at him.

"She wouldn't agree to go it otherwise," Gaara pouted.

"Do you even know what this will look like to the villagers?" Temari grew redder by the second.

Gaara turned his eyes to the ground crestfallen, "That I am running away and shirking my duties-."

"No, it looks like you've been coerced into going on a date with some weird woman!" Temari kicked the wall and immediately regretted as she hoped up and down rubbing her sore toe. "Anyway, you're not going!"

Gaara stood there blankly. D-d-date?! Is that really how it looks?

"Uhhhhh," Gaara couldn't think of a logical protest and inched back away from Temari.

She noticed and tried to grab his collar again. Dodging he turned and ran though he didn't know why. Temari chased him down the hallway of the Kazekage's office; a few bewildered people dove out of the way as they passed. For being in full gear with a giant gourd of sand strapped to his back Gaara was pretty fast. He found the nearest window and jumped on the ledge.

"Don't you dare!" Temari shouted at him.

"Hold down the fort while I am away," he jumped out the window and disappeared in a whirlwind of sand.

He could vaguely hear Temari cursing after him. Why did I run? Oh, well. I am supposed to meet Mizu at the back entrance. At the back of the village, near his house there is a tunnel that leads to the outside. When he arrived, he found Mizu waiting with a backpack. She'd traded out some of her hot green garments for some sand village clothing that would protect her from the sun and wind. She'd tied her hair up in an elaborate bun braid to keep it out of her face. He could see more of her face than usual; she turned to him and smiled. Her eyes shine a bit when she smiles and when she tilts her head down slightly... it's really cute-.

"You're late-," Mizu started.

Gaara slapped himself in the face. W-w-what am I thinking! Temari this is your fault for putting stupid thoughts in my head. Mizu looked at him surprised and worried.

"Um, I was just kidding. You're here on time," Mizu corrected her statement thinking that was the reason Gaara slapped himself in the face.

"Huh? A-ah, it's fine," Gaara blushed fiercely; he couldn't exactly tell her what had come to mind.

Temari I am gonna get you for this!

Mizu raised an eyebrow at him, "Rrright. Let's get going."

Gaara nodded and went thru the tunnel first happy to turn away from her, his face still on fire. The tunnel lead out into a canyon with lots of twists and turned and steep cliff walls boxing in the path. Someone who hadn't travel in them before could easily get lost. Gaara knew them well, though, and led the way with no trouble. He stayed alert to his surroundings while bandits weren't likely in this part there were wild animals that would attack on site. They traveled in silence; the only noise was the crunching of the rocks underfoot and the occasional bird cawing overhead. Knock, knock. Gaara stopped and turned around to look at Mizu mystified.

"Did you just knock on my gourd like a door?" Gaara asked her baffled.

"Yeah, I was curious if it was hollow," Mizu looked at him with a big childish grin.

"Why would I bring a giant hollow gourd on a mission with me?" Gaara rubbed the bridge of his nose with his fingers.

"To collect water with?" Mizu tilted her head innocently.

Gaara sighed and turned back around to continue.

"Talk with me," Mizu demanded.

Confused. Gaara turned back around, "Huh?"

"I don't want to walk the whole way in silence."

"Then you should have brought your pet," Gaara frowned unsure what this weird woman expected from him.

"Yoki wouldn't have been able to fit through that tunnel. Anyway, talk with me. We still have a couple hours before we get there."

Gaara panicked, he'd never had a mission that required him to make polite conversation before.

"W-what about?" Gaara turned back around and continued walking, his heart was beating out of time.

"Anything that doesn't involve work," She moved up to walk beside him while twirling her finger.

He felt discouraged already, "I don't really..."

"Favorite color," Mizu looked at him and smiled mischievously. "Start with that if you can't think of anything."

Gaara looked at her blankly, "People have favorite colors?"

She returned his look with one of disbelief and surprise, "You've never decided on a favorite color?"

"It wasn't really important...," Gaara frowned.

"Hmm, do you know your best friend's favorite color?" Mizu tilted her head.

Gaara crossed his arms and thought for a second, "Naruto's is orange."

"What's his favorite food?"

"Ramen."

"Favorite jutsu?"

"Shadow clone."

Mizu frowned at him, "Now answer those questions for yourself."

"I... don't know," Gaara looked at her crestfallen.

Mizu smiled evilly, "Is your friend a guy?"

"Yeah, why?" Gaara didn't understand where this was going.

Mizu put her hand over her mouth, "Are you actually into men Lord Kazekage?"

Gaara tilted his head blankly, "I don't understand the question."

"If Naruto asked you to kiss him would you?" Mizu held back a laugh.

Gaara blinked, "Why would Naruto ask me too... AH!"

Mizu burst into laughter when Gaara finally understood the question.

"Y-you're teasing me aren't you!" Gaara shouted blushing fiercely.

Mizu ran a little ways ahead of him laughing loudly, "See, your starting to catch on."

She's really cute when she laughs. What am I thinking! Gaara's heart pounded loudly in his ears. What's wrong with my heart lately? I'll have to ask Sakura to give me a checkup when I get back. He heard the rumbling before he saw it. Dashing forward he ran tackled Mizu to the ground as part of the cliff gave way burying them alive.