Steps (Gaara x Reader)

Chapter 35

Amaya's POV

I stood behind Gaara as we faced 18 kids, all different sizes. They appeared to be hesitant and yet excited at the same time.

"Before you begin combat-training, you must first choose a weapon that suits you both physically and mentally." Temari began her voice stern and loud. She seems like she would make a good teacher. My amber eyes flowed among all the children in front of me, one of them raised their hand slowly and Temari immediately pointed them out.

"Yes?" Her voice questioned as she stared the young one down. "I'm sorry, but is it absolutely necessary that we all choose a weapon?" I shot up confused at the question, is it necessary?

"Uh why do you ask?" Kankuro responded back both Temari and him appearing shocked.

"If all  of us have weapons, there's a chance we'll end up hurting each other. Someone could get killed." Get killed she says....

"Your weapon is like..." Gaara began speaking shocking me and causing me to jump in response, all the kids in front of us jumped at him as well, probably more in fear. "Forget it, it's not important."

"It is..." I whispered under my breath for only Gaara to hear, he turned towards me confusion in his eyes, he truly was growing up. "This isn't a game you're playing." Temari said.

"If you were to go into battle with that frame of mind, you wouldn't survive." Kankuro continued his voice strict and clear. I shifted in my spot as my eyes focused on the girl who looked apologetic. "I-I'm sorry."

"For your combat-training, you'll be working in a group with one of us. You may choose which instructor you want to work with." Kankuro announced, I continued to stand behind Gaara who was staring ahead at all the kids. "Gaara, would you smile already? Don't look so mean, lighten up. No one will want to be in your group." Temari whispered, I knew she was concerned no one would pick him...

  "You get to choose between myself, Temari, or Gaara and Amaya." Kankuro announced again as the kids began running off to their groups. I felt nervous as I watched all the kids head off towards groups, no one headed towards Gaara. I felt my heart break and I wanted to say something but the words were stuck in my throat until the girl from earlier came over to us.

"Excuse me, will you two be my Sensei's?" I felt joy fill in me and I couldn't help but form a wide grinned smile on my face. "Are you sure you want that?" Gaara asked, even though it was hard to tell I noticed the uncertainty in his voice.

"Please, teach me!" She pleaded again and I found my voice, a smile stay on my face. "Of course we can." I said catching the attention of all of Gaara and the young ninja that stood before us. The kids then reached for the weapons, each one choosing all sorts of different weapons. My eyes followed around us as kids had picked their weapons and begun spinning them around.

"What your name?" Gaara questioned facing the front of the girl before us. Her eyes widened and she responded hastily. "Ah, It's Matsuri."

"Matsuri, you must choose a weapon." I couldn't help but feel Gaara was in an excellent mood as he said that, he truly did change.  Matsuri's eyes turned into one of fear as she laid eyes onto the blade. "What's the matter?" Gaara asked and Matsuri turned towards the smaller weapon for a little while. After being told to that she spun around and grabbed the largest weapon. She was barely able to hold it up as she dropped it to the ground.

"That is not for you." I said aloud as I leaned on the table my elbows on the table. Matsuri looked at me a little shocked until Gaara spoke up, "I want you to attack me with that. Attack like you want to kill me."

"Yes sir!" Matsuri responded as she fell off balance and fell onto her ass. I shook my head and stared at her sitting on the ground. "Beware the demon with the iron club, but that doesn't apply to you."

"Yes sir!" She responded as she popped straight up again. I picked at the weapons on the table and picked up the smaller weapon, "This would suit you." I said as I looked down at the smaller one, and lifting it up. Gaara turned towards it and nodded his head in response.

"It's called the rope javelin." Gaara began explaining as he took the weapon from me, Matsuri looked at it with interest. "I've never heard of it."

Gaara jumped off to the side and began performing some skills with it, demonstrating the skill of the javelin. I stared at him with interest and adoration as he did so. "It's amazing isn't it?" I asked Matsuri as I saw her watch with complete and utter interest. "I-It's amazing!"

"The sharp blade at the end of the rope is not meant for offense. Its purpose is to keep enemies at a distance, which allows you to use the rope to incapacitate your enemy." Gaara threw the Javelin at a tall wood that stood across from us. I walked along with matsuri over to him and the two of us stared at Gaara's completion.

"You must practice until the rope becomes an extension of your body." Gaara handed over the Javelin to Matsuri and she stared at it with interest. "With hard work it becomes easier." I told her as she nodded her head. Gaara nodded his head in response and turned away as Matsuri continued to spin the weapon in the air in a swift speed.

"It seems you are getting better at that." I said as she threw the weapon at the log. It didn't wrap around it as it should have, but she was able to throw it quite the distance. Matsuri continue to stay focused as she spun it around again, I turned towards Gaara with a smile. "Are you happy? you have yourself a determined student."

Gaara turned to me, I could sense joy coming from him as the two of us stared at each other. When the sound of the knife point hitting the log came to ear I snapped back around and caught it smashing to the ground in front of her. She looked at it in fear as her body was still.

I turned away from Gaara and reached down, turned back up and handing it to her, she snapped back to reality and stared at it. "Oh! Thank you." Matsuri muttered as she took the weapon back.

"Are you okay?" I questioned with care as I reached out and touched her shoulder. "When I was young, I stood by helplessly as my parents were attacked by so many weapons... It's just so hard now." I couldn't help but feel sorrow for the words that left her mouth. I moved my hand from her shoulder to her head as Gaara responded, "Tell me your reason for wielding a weapon."

Gaara wasn't looking at us, instead he stared off into the open sky, "I remember a time and an individual who had said that he would protect his friend, I'll never forget his face when he said those words." I couldn't help but smile as he said that, Naruto. Gaara turned away and began walking away leaving the two of us behind.

"Who is the guy?" Matsuri questioned as I turned back towards her. "You know Gaara wasn't always good he was cold hearted and wouldn't care about people, but after being sent on the mission, we met Naruto. He showed the path of light to Gaara, for the better. Gaara's trying to do good, he has a dream now." I paused for a little bit as memories trailed back.

"I may not have been here my entire life, but he saved me from being kicked out." I felt my heart beating faster as I looked towards the ground.

"He is definitely something..." I  whispered under my breath as the wind whipped around my hair, I heard the log get hit again with the Javelin's sharp end and I turned around with a smile. "Looks like you have the determination to keep fighting."