A storm of sand and blaze (Gaara fanfiction and The Love Story He Deserves)

Chapter 28: In front of a fire

The desert sky had a candid orange tone with no clouds that could cover the sun before dusk fell. With every step left on the sand the air that Shinki breathed felt heavier in his lungs. The pain that he suffered in each of his muscles resembled just as if they were being reaped out constantly with a hook. His dried tears still burned on his eyelids but the deep fear of being used again as a puppet made his weak legs keep moving forward.

He was so absorbed in his own pain that it took him a while to notice a familiar chakra around. The stars were already visible, and the sky had purple tones when he finally saw the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind. At last his senses realized the calling from afar, in the close steppe.

?!

After falling a couple of times and getting some cuts with the sharp spikes of some bushes, the boy could run the last mile, where the chakra was summoning him. And there, next to the river, he finally found his father. At first glance, he wondered if he perhaps was being delusional because of the tiredness and the pain. However, once he got closer, a small version of Shukaku waved his hands, asking for help. The One-Tailed Beast was so small that he could have passed as a forest cat for anyone around. Shinki walked clumsily the last meters and finally fell on his knees next to the unconscious body of Gaara.

"Father!" He cried but no tears came out due to his dehydration.

"He is still alive". Shukaku tried to comfort him. "He just needs some rest...Such as you".

"Where is Feza?"

"She couldn't come with us. But I think it's better if Gaara tells you what happened. For now, help me get him to that cave. I can give you two of my chakra, but we should get to a safe place first".

Shinki nodded and with a last effort, he transported his father to the cave. There, Shukaku and he built a fire and the One-Tailed Beast made sure to bring some water for them. Then, as the cicadas began to sing, Shukaku focused on sharing some of his chakra until he felt exhausted. The boy's pain remained but at least he could move again to bring more wood for the fire and some more water.

After a short quest, he came back to the cave and found that Gaara had finally awakened.

"Father!" The boy exclaimed bending next to him and holding him tight on his arms. "Father, I'm sorry! I tainted your name! I...!"

"It's not your fault, Shinki", Gaara replied holding him too. Shinki did not remember Gaara being so openly effective before, but it resulted in a pure feeling of safety that calmed the boy's anxious heart. "Please, don't blame yourself anymore. The things that happened were out of your hands".

"But..."

Gaara shook his head and then his eyes met Shukaku's.

"So, you came too, old friend".

Shukaku nodded and then rolled his eyes with annoyance.

"I wanted to go live some adventures in different worlds inside Feza, but once that snobby Benten noticed I was inside her belly, he unsealed me in just a second and gave his chakra to Feza instead. Then, he threw me to the void like toilet paper! I totally dislike him!"

"What is Shukaku-sama talking about?" Shinki asked intrigued.

"There is much I must tell you," Gaara sighed. "But first tell me how did you escape? We were so worried about you..."

"I can barely remember anything with clarity... I just recall me walking back to Sunagakure the day before your wedding and being taken by a black snake made of iron. I have blended memories about what occurred the days after: the Devil of the Desert destroying the village, many meetings with the council members, the image of Uncle Kankuro being imprisoned... But everything gets more confusing the more I think about it. Lastly, I just woke up in my room feeling pretty withdrawn and I had to use the secret tunnels to escape from the village".

"I see..."

Shukaku was beginning to fall asleep as he looked toward the fire. Gaara offered him his coat to keep him warm but the small creature preferred to climb to his shoulder. The One-Tailed Beast slowly closed his eyes while Gaara explained all that had happened since the wedding to Shinki. The boy listened with attention and serenity although some of the things he heard shocked him from time to time. In the flames he imagined every word Gaara described to him and little by little everything began to make sense. As pragmatic as he was, deep inside him he always felt a special connection with Feza that could not be explained logically until that moment, when he finally realized the bond of fraternity that united them. By the end of the story, he noticed the traces of sadness in his father's voice and the tears that formed in his eyes without getting to drop.

"That's why she is not here". Shinki said in a low voice at last. "But she said she would come back, right?"

"I don't think we should expect the return of your sister, Shinki". Gaara explained crossing his arms and sighing. "She now has her own path in places we cannot reach. Besides, that god who she serves doesn't seem very indulgent. I believe it is better if we move on our own".

In front of the fire, Shinki noticed that Gaara, even if mature, had a fresher air than before. Perhaps he had lost some years with the time-traveling but he would not dare to ask him such a trivial question. After all, he liked his new air of youth and determination.

"Tomorrow before the sun rises, we will go to Konoha and stay there while we fully recover", Gaara kept explaining, focusing more on the present situation than in the sensation of loss that still ached his heart. "Haru Kaito becomes stronger with every passing minute so he should not be taken lightly. Also, Kankuro is in great danger and his safety is a priority but most likely he will be used as a hostage".

"What are we going to do then?"

Gaara kept quiet for a minute after that question, closing his eyes to think. If he came back and claimed his place as Kazekage, by the law of Sunagakure, he should get it back. However, it was not because of a title or a position, that he was concerned. It was about the motivations. Gaara admitted that Haru Kaito had the intelligence and capability of being a Kage. He had talent, skill, but he lacked an honest incentive. He desired power because he was greedy and because being a Kage had been denied to him just as love. Perhaps the title of Kazekage was nothing more than a consolation prize he needed to gain to ease the pain of not being ever corresponded by Kaji Miyako. Or had he been obsessed with Miyako since the beginning because he knew he could never earn the heart of a free bird?

As painful as it sounded, he could finally understand that ache now. His beloved bird had flown far away from him as well, but it was better than making her miserable in a cage. Besides, Gaara had been the Kazekage before meeting Feza and his motivations were clear to him since Uzumaki Naruto had become his friend. He had worked hard to earn the acknowledgment of his people because he knew how vain enforcing love and respect was.

"I still have to come up with a good plan", Gaara replied to Shinki with honesty. "But don't worry, I promise you we will be home soon".

Shinki nodded and dedicated a little smile to Gaara before he took a resting position to sleep for some hours.

"I would still like to call you father, if you don't mind," The boy said before closing his eyes.

"I'd be glad if you keep seeing me like that". Gaara replied gently.

Soon, the flames of the fire faded but Gaara stayed awake until the first sunbeams cleared the night sky.