Affection Blooming From A Desert (Gaara x OC)

Chapter 2: A Helping Hand

It was yet another hot day in Suna, something you'd expect living in the desert. Gaara was atop the great wall that surrounded Suna. He had made his rounds checking up on each post, making sure there had been no suspicious activity. Now he was done and decided to take a moment to himself before having to go back to the office.

His pile of paperwork seemed never ending. Although not one to show emotions, Gaara was greatly relieved that Kankuro was due back tomorrow. He would have someone help him with his paperwork again.

Kankuro had always suggested hiring an assistant but Gaara was always reluctant to such an idea. The entire female population was out of question, considering they would probably try to flirt with him instead of doing their work and he just didn't trust most people with the sensitive information that he views every day. It left Kankuro being a pseudo assistant.

While atop the wall, Gaara had his arms crossed over his chest and gazed across the vast expanse of never ending sand. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed something move. In the distance, a vague outline of a person was moving with difficulty towards the wall. It appeared that they were carrying something heavy on their back. Upon closer inspection, Gaara could see that the figure was the waitress from the tea house.

Without thinking, he conjured a cloud of sand beneath his feet to carry him towards the girl. Akina did not notice Gaara's arrival, her gaze was focused on her feet. She was trying with great difficulty to not stumble. Strapped to her back was a crate. Her hands gripped the straps so tightly that her knuckles were white.

With each step she took, the more she staggered until she nearly tripped. Akina wore a shocked expression as her hands shot out to brace her fall, but the ground never came.

Gaara, anticipating the fall, had his sand wrap around her waist to keep her from falling over and underneath the crate to help support the weight better.

Still in shock, Akina took a few moments to grasp what just happened to her. After her initial shock from the fall, her face flared red with embarrassment when she realized that it was the Kazekage that had caught her.

"L-Lord Kazekage-Sama." Stuttered Akina when she was firmly planted on her feet after Gaara had righted her.

"I'm so sorry!" Said Akina. She continued to apologize profusely, bowing constantly as best she could with the crate still on her back.

Gaara looked on with mild amusement at the short woman before him

"Do not apologize, you have done nothing wrong." Replied Gaara. Immediately it ended the woman's apologies but her face was still flushed with embarrassment and partially from the heat.

She was wearing a loose long-sleeved beige shirt and a maroon skirt and black sandals. Her brown hair was tied up in a messy bun and a noticeable sheen of sweat covered her face from carrying the heavy crate in the unforgiving heat of Suna.

"What is in the crate?" Questioned Gaara.

"Oh...it's a delivery of tea leaves for the shop." Replied Akina. "I'm sorry for my rudeness but I must be on my way Lord Kazekage-Sama. My boss is expecting the delivery soon. Have a nice day." Akina bowed with respect to Gaara before stepping around him and continuing her arduous journey back to the tea shop.

No more than 5 steps later she was stopped again by the voice of Gaara.

Akina stopped in her tracks and turned to face Gaara. Silently she was cursing the Kazekage, just wishing she could get out of here already and deliver the crate. Her shoulders and legs were in dire need of a break. Still, he was her Kazekage and she must show him respect and obey his orders.