Affection Blooming From A Desert (Gaara x OC)

Chapter 5: A Stroll In The Garden

It was Akina's day off again and she found herself back at the greenhouse helping Hana. Gaara had approved the project to breed a hybrid plant several weeks ago. When Hana got the good news she and her team immediately started preparations for it. Akina now spent every day off at the greenhouse helping her and learning the new properties of the plant. It was quite exciting because there was high hopes that the leaves from the plant, when crushed, would make a very effective balm to help ninjas who suffer from chakra exhaustion recover faster.

Akina was hunched over a row of the new plants delicately watering them. Hana had left her to water the new plants while she had gone to the hospital to help produce some new medication. Akina had to make sure that the water only hit the soil and not the leaves as that could potentially damage it.

After finishing watering all the plants, she made her way to Hana's office. She took a seat at the desk and flipped open a black binder that sat on the side. Everyone had to record what tasks they did in the day and provide specific details so that the research team could track the progress. She closed the binder and was about to put it back in its place when a new voice startled her. As far as she knew, she was the only person in the greenhouse.

She let out a squeak and dropped the binder none too gently on her foot. She gasped at the pain that flared from the impact. Her sandal was quickly discarded so she could rub her aching foot to hopefully relieve some of the pain.

"My apologies. I didn't mean to startle you." Akina flushed lightly when she heard his voice.

"G-Gaara!" She gasped. 'What was he doing here?' she wondered. "I-it's okay. I just wasn't expecting anyone else to be here."

He could see her still nursing her injured foot. "Is your foot okay?"

"Oh, y-yeah! It's fine." She smiled reassuringly at him.

Gaara nodded. "I came by to see Tanaka-san to ask how things were going with the new plants and if there was anything she needed." He explained.

The pain from her foot faded and she slipped her sandal back on her foot. "She's at the hospital right now helping the nurses replenish their medicine supplies. She won't be in her office until tomorrow but...if you want I can answer any questions you have? I've been helping her since you approved the project, I'm sure I can give you the same information." She offered.

"That will do, may I?" He gestured to the chair in front of the desk.

"O-oh, of course!" She stuttered. She didn't actually think he would agree. Next time she shouldn't assume anything, play it safe and don't offer what you're not willing to give she said to herself. She anxiously watched Gaara take a seat on the chair opposite her. She clasped her hands tightly and was grateful that the desk hid the way they trembled.

For the next half hour Gaara thoroughly asked her questions regarding the process that the team has employed to nurture the plants and how things progressed since they first started. Akina got more and more comfortable with each question she answered. Gaara was more than impressed with the knowledge she possessed and he could clearly see the passion she had from the way her eyes gleamed and how animated she became. Before coming here he had concluded another dull meeting with the council; her enthusiasm was truly a refreshing sight.

After asking a couple of important questions, he inquired about the progress of some of the other plants in the greenhouse...not that he cared. Truthfully he just wanted to hear her keep talking. While she answered his meaningless questions he idly thought about how he could spend some more time with her.

He found that over the last several weeks, since their lunch together, she had been invading his thoughts more and more to the point it became somewhat problematic. He knew that the distraction she caused him was bothering his brother. His thoughts of her had, unfortunately, distracted him so much that he was severely slacking with his paperwork. He knew that Kankuro was frustrated with him because it meant that his brother had to stay longer to help him complete the day's work. Kankuro had persistently interrogated Gaara about what was bothering him but Gaara remained tight lipped. He refused to admit to his brother what was the cause of his distraction lest Kankuro used it as ammunition against him. His brother was annoying enough as it is, he didn't need to give him more reasons to tease and bother him.