Because I Met You

Chapter 4: Gaara's Siblings

Since I have no clothes of my own, Gaara gave me some of his to change into. We both go get cleaned up and, somehow, I know how to bandage up my head and his forehead, even though it's the first time I do it. It's like... I know how.

"Akia, you're really good at it. Almost as good as... Yashamaru..."

"Yashamaru?"

So that's it... I must've absorbed that knowledge from him too. Is that how people learn jutsu? That's weird.

"Hey Gaara, how do you learn jutsu?"

"Jutsu? Well... It takes training, mostly. Other ways is when you have a Kekkei Genkai."

"A Kekkei Genkai? I feel like I've heard of it before..."

"A Kekkei Genkai is an inherited skill, a bloodline limit."

"Is your control over sand a Kekkei Genkai?"

"Not really... I have that control because of the Shukaku."

"...Is it normal for someone to learn jutsu by absorbing it from a dead body?"

"What...? I've never heard of something like that before. Why do you ask?"

"I think... that's what happened to me when... I got closer to Yashamaru's dead body..."

Even though I still didn't try the flying kunai technique, I just feel like I know how. I also know how to treat wounds almost at professional level when it's my first time ever treating it.

"Do you think that maybe it's like your clan's Kekkei Genkai?"

"You might be right..."

It could be my clan's Kekkei Genkai. I don't really remember anything about them so... It is a possibility. Does that mean if I'm close to a really strong ninja's dead body, then I'll become a really strong ninja too? That would be awesome! But then again, I don't like seeing people die...

"Kiu... I have a feeling that a lot of assassination attempts are going to come my way... It'll be dangerous for you to stay with me..."

"What are you trying to say? You want me to leave?"

"...It'd be safer for you."

"No it won't. You're the only person I have in this world... I only trust you... Besides, if anything happens, I know you'll protect me, right?"

"Of course! I'll do anything to keep you safe!"

"I know you will."

"You know, it's getting late. You should go to sleep. You can have my bed."

"You don't want to try to sleep too?"

"It's better if I don't..."

"At least sit next to me on the bed. I... don't want to be alone after all that's happened tonight."

Gaara pats my head and smiles.

"Alright, I won't leave you alone."

Good! I'm really scared after all that's happened. I mean, I saw a man die in front of me after trying to assassinate my best friend! I'm just happy that that friend is safe and sound... and that he's smiling again. I get up on Gaara's bed and he lies down next to me.

"I thought you said you weren't going to sleep."

"Lying down doesn't mean that I'll sleep."

"You got a point there."

We're both lying on our sides, facing each other. We take each other's hands into our own, finding safety and comfort in each other. I feel my eyelids becoming heavy. After a while, I finally end up falling asleep.