Legacy of A Flower: Naruto (remake)

Chapter Thirty Five: The Peace in Gaara

It has been a long day of training. I sit in a clearing in the forest in. My only source of light is the stars and the floating fireflies. It's a calm, moonless night. The breeze gently breeze is sweeping away my worries.

A hawk sits at the very top on my knee, staring back at me. Ryo is his name, the only summoning without an attitude. Also one of the Great Yoshida Summonings. We're in the middle of week three and here I am now. I have improved an incredible amount. It looks like Kakashi did do right by me.

"You just summoned me to sit and contemplate?" Ryo asks me, "You're an odd child."

"I know," I accept, fiddling with a kunai knife in my hand. I rest against a log, pondering over the days that are to come. "So what are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking you need better hobbies," he says. Okay, so maybe he does have a little attitude in him. "I'm only tolerating this because you're Haruka's child." I chuckle. He was very fond of my mother.

"You're a cute bird," I rub his chin. He stares dryly at me. He's a very tolerant bird. Very wise and smart. I'm starting to grow attached to him, summoning him just for his company.

We spend a few more minutes like this before he let's out a yaw. "You should go ahead and rest now."

"Alright, don't do anything dangerous. Goodnight," he nods and poofs away.

Once again, someone is trying to sneak up on me. I fling the kunai behind me only for it to be blocked by sand. It plops on the ground sideways.

Light green eyes staring into dark ones. I let out a breath of relief, "I thought it was Orochimaru or
some shit. But it's just you, Gaara."

I turn back around to lean against the log. Gaara speaks, "Aren't you afraid I'll try to kill you?"

"You already told me you find it hard to kill me," I wave him off. "You don't seem to be the kind of person to say something they don't mean."

That is true as far as I have seen. Gaara isn't one to make empty threats. I recklessly decide that goes for his non-threatening words too.

He remains silent. I wonder why he isn't taking the opportunity to hurt me. He just stands there thinking. It's difficult to understand him. More difficult than I had anticipated. "I hurt your friend."

"You did," I nod. I think of Lee, in the hospital. His dreams are completely crushed. "But I'd be a hypocrite to constantly hold it against you. Lee will decide his own reasonable thoughts of you."

This unabating blood lust of his comes from the demon within him. It's been reinforced by whatever he has had to endure in the past. When I see him, I just know he endured it alone. He had no Reed and he has no Team Seven to keep him sane. It is just him and his beast.

Gaara continues to stand there. I'm not sure why. He just stands, unsure of what to do. I don't know if he's conflicted or merely standing there without a care. I start to grow tired of him just standing there without a word. I can't help but voice, "Alright, you weirdo. Stop staring at my back and sit down or something. Geez, can we not be enemies for a few minutes?"

I am startled when he disappears and reappears through his sand. He sits far away from me, but still along side the log.

"Are you like me?" he asks. I don't understand his question. So I interpret it as I want.

"I guess," I shrug, "The people I once lived amongst don't want me. But I can't complain, I have more than you do."

"I have enough," he tells me quite defensively.

"You have yourself," I correct. "Believe it or not that's not even near enough."

"You've killed people like I have," he says. It takes a few seconds to reply to that. I'm not sure how to respond to something that is so harsh, but also so true.

"I didn't want to," I say. "But you're right I did and I regret it to this day."

"Why?" he asks me.

"They tried to hurt me," I respond.

"Then why regret it?" he questions.

"Because it doesn't make what I did any less wrong," I tell him. "I don't remember doing it, but I did. I hate every bit of it."

"I still don't understand," he says gruffly. "It seems it was out of your control. They tried to kill you. Yet you're the one who's remorseful? You're stupid."

Well, I didn't expect him to come for me like that. Although, this isn't the first time he called me that either.

"Why aren't you afraid?" he asks.

"You know you keep asking that and my answer always goes over your head," I remark. "Are you sure you're not the stupid one here?"

"Answer the question..." he hides the fact that he's dumbfounded by my boldness.

"I'm not afraid of you, I'm afraid of what you're doing to yourself," I tell him. "I'm afraid that the same is happening to my brother. The only thing that scares me about you is that you might be beyond help and that you will let yourself believe that you are thriving from the things that you do."

"I don't understand," he admits.

"Here's the thing, Red," I sit up, to face him. "I have hurt people and so have you. People fear and hate me just like they fear and hate you. We both have been hurt. We both have been alone. The only
difference between you and I is that I found people who saved me from becoming like you. They
loved me regardless of what I've done."

"People? People can't save you..." he disagrees.

"You're partly right. Only you can truly save yourself, but you must find the reasons to change and thrive. I have found mine. They don't know what they've done for me and truthfully I don't deserve them. But they gave me the means to be better."

"All people do is leave and wish me death," he tells me. "You're foolish to believe that they gave you a reason to do anything. In the end, we have only ourselves. My very reason for living is myself. So, stop pretending that you are not what you are and that I am not what I am."

I want to flinch at his harsh words. Still, I'm unwavering. He looks back at me. We struggle to
understand the other. Our gazes are fighting against eachother. Yet, we stay. I'm not sure why I didn't just leave him alone. His eyes just interested me.

Amongst all that chaos, that anger, that hate. There is peace. He finds peace and reason within the hate. That is all he wants. That's why I know, that he can try to find peace amongst something much more lighter. Things such as hate are easy. Loving is much
more harder.

He just had to be willing to put in the work. Because I am not a healer nor a fixer. But I can try to show him.

Basil's eyes are much like his. Gaara is the closest I can get to eyes like theirs. If I can muster up hope for Gaara then I can also hope for my brother. Through Gaara I see that it is not too late for Basil. This puts me at peace. I find myself smiling at a very much confused redhead. Maybe I am stupid. But my
very own stupidity has led me to hope.

"Your eyes are still peculiar," I say, standing up. "But you have brought me some peace. For that I consider you to be a friend. So when you fix your eyes, I'll be waiting."

"Stupid, Lily," I hear him mumble.

"One last thing, Red," I stop before continuing. "If it comes down to it, I must protect my other friends. Even if it's from you..."

Alright, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. Let me know what you think, I'd actually am curious on your take about Lily's interaction with Gaara and what needs to improve? Any suggestions for them? I'm all ears.

Anyways thank you guys so much for reading. Have a splendid day!!!