Infected

Chapter 34: Reunion and Prison

Gaara shifted through his daily paperwork and sighed. Hana walked in with some tea for him. She quietly set it on his desk. He barely nodded at her and expected her to leave, but she fidgeted next to his desk.

"Did you need something?" Gaara looked up at the girl, even though he could sleep thanks to Mizu's bracelet he found he hadn't been well rested lately. The lack of rest was putting him on edge.

"L-Lord Kazekage... About that night, after the dinner. I wanted to say I'm sorry. I think I hurt your feelings and that wasn't my intention." Hana bowed her head.

Gaara sighed and forced a smile. "You didn't hurt my feelings. I was a bit in my own head that night. If I made you feel uncomfortable, I apologize."

She blushed and smiled at him. "Um... If it's alright do you think I could call you Lord G-G-Gaara?"

He hesitated, but decided it would be best to keep the piece with Baka's niece. "That's—"

"Gaara!" Kankuro burst into his office and noticed Hana there.

"What is it?" Gaara remained composed. Did Yama make their move?

Kankuro glanced at Hana nervously. "Can I speak to you privately?"

"Is it sensitive information?" Gaara's eyes narrowed. It might be worse than he feared.

"Well, yes, I mean no. It's not that sensitive...." Kankuro kept glancing at Hana, who seemed confused by this reaction.

"Then just report it." Gaara picked up a document to look over it and sign it.

Kankuro hesitated and laughed nervously, but told him, "The guards at the front of the village have spotted someone at a distance pacing back and forth in the sand."

Gaara looked up from the document and raised an eyebrow. "Does it seem that this person is a threat?"

His older brother glanced at Hana again, but then sighed. "No, but until an hour ago it seemed like a giant lion with a snake for its tail accompanied this person."

Everything stopped. His ears rang loudly and his heart pounded. Slowly, he stood up and didn't hear what else his brother was saying. Gaara walked around his desk, past his brother and out the door. In the hallway, he felt a tug on his arm and looked back at a flustered Hana who was saying something to him. He couldn't hear her. Her eyes filled with despair and she let him go. Tears poured down her cheeks, but Gaara couldn't process why. Kankuro came up behind her and patted the girl's shoulder as she cried into her hands. His brother nodded to him and Gaara left the girl to him.

He wandered through town in a daze, past the grand walls, and the table at the entrance where some very surprised ninja tried to call out to him. Yet, he didn't hear them. In the distance was a figure in a heavy green cloak pacing back and forth. As he approached, the figure turned to him and their eyes met. Mizu.

Sound rushed back to him all at once, and so did a surge of rage. How dare she! Mizu looked terrified and her eyes shifted to the ground. How dare she leave without a word! How dare she mess with me!

"Gaara."

Her voice rang clearly in his ears. A voice he never thought he'd hear ever again. A voice he thought he'd never hear say his name again. How dare she—Thank goodness she's alive. Even as his anger boiled, he felt a profound sense of relief. She looked away from him again and shifted from one foot to the other. Approaching her, he didn't give her time to speak as he wrapped his arms around her.