"Poor child… how do you feel?"
The voice reached Gaara through a haze - low, gentle, almost too soft to belong anywhere near him. His eyelids twitched. Heavy. Slow. He forced them open, but the world refused to come into focus. Shapes wavered in the blurred light, and the sounds drifted around him.
"Where… am I?" he asked, his voice so hoarse and fragile that even he flinched from the sound. "My whole body hurts…"
"I managed to pull you away before they could kill you," the voice replied, moving around him. A presence that clearly circled him. "But let's not speak of that for now. You're safe. What matters is rest. Don't push yourself."
Gaara's breathing steadied as the voice washed over him, but his thoughts didn't follow. They broke apart, scattered in the fog of his memory.
'How did I get here… what happened to me…'
He tried to piece it together. Shattered flashes drifted into place - the feeling of losing control, the monstrous surge of the One-Tail clawing out of him, the battlefield soaked in screams and blood. He remembered shinobi from both Iwa and Suna running for their lives, their fear only fueling the rage inside him. He hadn't spared them. Not one.
'They all deserved it… those who tried to hurt me, and those who tried to use me… I hate all of them.'
The memories grew darker as the anger started to ignite within him once again.
His village… the whispers behind his back… the terrified stares from the people meant to protect him. Even his siblings, Kankuro and Temari, had always looked at him like a threat barely contained. His own father… no, not a father, just a Kage of the village willing to sacrifice him for the sake of… everyone else but Gaara.
'I remember… killing people. I…'
Gaara's heart began to race. A sharp spike of pain shot through his chest as the emotions surged. Then the final fragment clicked into place.
There was one who hadn't run.
One who hadn't looked at him with hatred.
Yashamaru.
His uncle had stood beside him, even as the beast took over. He'd tried to calm him down, to bring him back. He'd pleaded with him.
And Gaara had killed him.
'I killed the only person who ever… loved me.'
His chakra surged uncontrollably.
The pressure in the room thickened. Dust rose from the corners of the chamber, drawn to him as if the very air could feel his sorrow. The bed beneath him groaned, creaked beneath the weight of something far heavier than his body.
But his strength failed him before his emotions could spill further. The surge faltered. The tension dropped. His limbs went limp, drained. A heaviness settled over him, pulling at his consciousness like a deep tide.
The last thing Gaara felt was his own heartbeat, frantic and alone.
Then… darkness.
<<<>>>
"Lord Kaoru, I brought it!"
The cheerful voice rang through the room the instant the door clicked shut. A young woman stepped inside, holding two paper bags tight against her chest with one hand while the other yanked off her hood.
"I hate this robe," she muttered, shaking her head with a graceful toss, strands of long blue hair swaying with the motion. "I hope we can wear decent clothes soon…"
She crossed the room and placed the bags down on the table. With a swift shrug, the heavy robe fell away, revealing her lean, well-toned frame. Her black sleeveless top clung to her skin, the sweat already darkening it around her waist.
"Please eat before it gets cold, Lord Kaoru," she said before frowning and glancing toward the window. "Though how could anything possibly get cold in this heat…" she mumbled, pressing her lips together.
Without waiting for a response, she walked over to her bed and snatched up a towel, wiping the sweat on her bare midriff and the back of her neck.
"Misa, stop complaining," Kaoru scolded lightly, still cross-legged on the floor, rolling his shoulders back in a slow stretch. "We've only been here two days. And we're staying at least a few more weeks. You need to adopt a positive attitude… unless, of course, it's my company you despise."
His voice was calm, but the slight lift at the end betrayed the tease. Even while still mid-stretch, he peeked through one half-lidded eye to gauge her reaction.
"Won't work anymore, Lord Kaoru," Misa replied smugly. "I've already learned not to trust anything that comes out of your mouth unless it's mission-related."
Still grinning, she dunked the towel into a nearby pot of water. "That said… could you… please?" she asked, dramatically pinching her neck like she was pleading for mercy.
"Fine, fine," Kaoru laughed. "You did bring me my sweets, after all."
His eyes shimmered with a cyan glow, and the soaked towel in Misa's hands stiffened slightly as a thin shell of frost laced over it.
"You are the best," Misa sighed in delight, pressing the chilled towel against the back of her neck and collapsing into the nearest chair. "Now this is heaven…" she groaned softly, the tension melting from her shoulders.
Kaoru chuckled, his eyes dimming back to normal, and reached into one of the paper bags. His hand closed around a round pastry - soft, warm, and fragrant. He gave it a playful squeeze. The fluffy dough collapsed under his fingers with a satisfying, pillowy crunch.
"Now this… this is what happiness looks like," he said, tearing off a piece. Thick red jam glistened inside, sticky and inviting, its scent unmistakably cherry.
He tossed the piece into his mouth and let it rest against his tongue, savoring it before chewing. The sweetness bloomed instantly - rich, buttery dough that melted without resistance, followed by the bright tang of fruit, thick and velvety.
For a moment, there was nothing else in the room, just the quiet joy of sugar. But then a knock at the door broke the silence. It wasn't harsh or urgent - three slow, measured taps, almost polite, as if whoever stood outside wanted to appear respectful.
Misa sprang from her chair sharply. Her hand reached into her pouch, fingers wrapping around a kunai with instict rather than thought.
Kaoru, by contrast, didn't even flinch. He took another bite of his jam-filled pastry, his eyes beginning to glow as they scanned the entrance.
"They're not dangerous," he muttered, still chewing. Another bite disappeared into his mouth.
Misa spun the kunai once on her finger before slipping it back into her pouch. She turned toward her robe, groaning at the thought. "Aren't you going to put yours on?" she asked.
"No point," Kaoru replied, licking a smear of jam from his upper lip. "If they came all the way here, they already know who we are."
A second round of knocking followed. Still polite, but firmer this time; three solid knocks, spaced evenly.
"I'll open it, then," Misa said, a bit too enthusiastically. She was clearly happy to have an excuse to skip the robe for once. It wasn't just uncomfortable, it was suffocating.
The wooden frame creaked loudly as the door opened, groaning under its own age. The shack they had rented was barely standing, a relic of weather and neglect. Its walls were swollen with moisture, its beams sagging with time.
"Good afternoon to you!" a bright, energetic voice called out. "I've heard tales of the Takime clan's beauty, but I see now that seeing truly does trump hearing tenfold."
A man in simple but clean clothes stepped forward with a flourish, reaching for Misa's hand grabbing it with confidence, without waiting for Misa's consent. He bent forward, clearly intending to kiss it.
But before his lips could so much as graze her skin, Misa had already snatched her hand back with an expression of complete horror. The force of her recoil sent the man stumbling forward, arms flailing. He would've crashed straight into her, burrying his face into her chest, if she hadn't sidestepped swiftly, letting him fall face-first into the doorway instead.
"Village Head, are you alright?!" gasped a round, sweating man behind him, scrambling to his side. He hauled him up by the shoulders with a clumsy grip, practically yanking him upright.
"I'm fine, I'm fine…" the Village Head laughed awkwardly, brushing himself off. "I must have lost my balance." He gave a courteous bow to Misa, smiling sheepishly, brushing off his earlier rudeness. "Forgive me for the clumsiness."
Then his gaze shifted past her and landed on Kaoru.
"If someone had told me our poor little village would one day host the Azure Reaper himself, I'd have laughed them out the door," the man said with a dramatic shake of the head. "And yet here you are. I don't know whether to tremble from fear, wondering why such a figure would hide in a place like this… or to celebrate that someone as mighty and gracious has honored us with his presence."
'He sure loves to talk…' Kaoru's brow twitched, just slightly.
"I'm on vacation," he said with a calm smile, still holding the pastry. "Trying to keep a low profile. But since our disguise had proved to be futile and you clearly knew who we are, I doubt the head of the village would visit without a real reason."
The Village Head laughed again, but didn't deny it.
Misa smiled quietly from the side. Watching her clan's youngest head speak so casually, so easily; there was pride swelling in her chest. When she was first assigned this mission, she had doubts. Everyone in Takime knew how strong Kaoru was. But strength and scheming were two different things, and Misa had wondered whether his lack of experience would show.
Two days in, and she had her answer.
"Lord Kaoru, I must say, the rumors don't do you justice," the village head began with a smile, his eyes subtly sweeping over Kaoru. "They claim you're short, and yet, here you are, taller than me. And I've always considered myself a rather large man..." He chuckled, pausing when Kaoru's brow lifted ever so slightly. "Ah, but I won't comment further on appearances. You seem not to enjoy them."
His grin widened, but Kaoru remained silent, half a pastry in hand.
"The rumor I was referring to, Lord Kaoru," the man continued, shifting his weight and tone, "claims you're coldhearted. That you care only for Takimura, and nothing beyond its walls. And yet, just yesterday, you saved the local tavern. Brutally dealt with five thugs who seemed to take too much interest in our poor Ria." He leaned forward slightly, voice lowering. "You should have heard how the tavern owner praised you... For a moment, I wondered if I'd be meeting an angel rather than a human being today. And not just any human being, but one trained in the art of killing."
His gaze sharpened as he spoke, expecting some shift in Kaoru's expression. But there was nothing. No pride, no recognition. Just a faint crunch as Kaoru bit into the pastry again, lips glazed faintly with cherry jam.
"I'd love to take the credit," Kaoru said at last. "But that wasn't me. I've done nothing since arriving but eat, nap, and have fun my friend here." He gestured vaguely toward Misa, who gave a tight smile and turned her face to hide the faint pink rising in her cheeks.
"And I plan to keep doing just that."
The village head blinked, thrown off by the unexpected deflection. His gaze shifted to Misa, who was now inspecting her nails like she had nothing to do with any of it.
"So, dear village head," Kaoru continued without waiting for a reply, "unless you've come with something important, I'd really prefer to enjoy my hard-earned vacation."
He returned to his pastry, devouring it with such satisfaction that for a moment, the room felt too small, like no one dared speak over the sound of sugar being chewed.
The silence stretched until the village head finally cleared his throat and forced a smile.
"Lord Kaoru… I do have a request. There are criminals in the region - more and more of them lately. My village is small. Forgotten. No one protects us. And just a few days ago, a new group appeared nearby. Dangerous. Armed. So good at shinobi arts that some say they are part of one of the great villages. We hoped... perhaps... someone like you could…"
"You'd have to make a formal commission to Takimura," Kaoru interrupted without looking up. "Submit the request through the proper channels. Then, maybe, someone will come."
He met the man's gaze then.. "Today, you might discover that some of the rumors about me are true after all."
The words were calm. Measured. But they carried a weight the village head hadn't expected. His jaw tightened, lips pressing together as he opened his mouth once, twice… but said nothing.
"It was rude of me to interrupt your rest," he said finally, bowing his head slightly. "I simply thought you'd want to know… the woman they took today was Ria."
Kaoru didn't move. But the pastry in his hand stilled.
And his eyes, now glowing faintly, rose.
**
The Next Chapter on Tuesday
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