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People who are Important: Book One	By : Morales89 Category: Naruto > General Views: 1255 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: Naruto is the property of Masashi Kishimoto and Tv tokyo. This is a purely fanwritten work, with which I make no money, and write only for the pleasure of myself and my readers.

Chapter List
- 12
- 13
- 14
Chapter 12

'Shia-chan,
Thanks for writing me while you're away. I'm sure you've got so much to do with your training and your mission. I hope writing to me doesn't keep you from anything. Well…I've been okay, I've been visiting Lee-san in the hospital, and guess what! Tsunade-sama was able to heal his injuries. I think she's so amazing. Sasuke-kun still hasn't returned, but I guess I'm not surprised. I knew that the night he left would probably be the last time I saw him for a while. Naruto has promised me that he'll bring Sasuke-kun back, and I have faith in him. It seems that Naruto almost never breaks a promise to a friend.
Lee-san is much better now, and I'm happy for it. He's a really good friend. He's been asking me out for a while now, but I don't want to give him false hope while I'm still in love with someone else. I think he knows that, but I know he wants to make me feel better. What do you think I should do? I hope you're doing well in Sunagakure. I hope your hosts are treating you well. When you get back you'd better be stronger, because I know you can do it! Well, I hope to hear from you soon, and I can't wait till you return to Konoha in a week and a half.
Your friend, Haruno Sakura'
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Shia smiled as she folded the letter and maneuvered her key into the Sabaku house lock from behind her groceries. It was about 7:00am, and she was going to be making breakfast this morning. Opening and shutting the door, the young medic made her way up the stairs. She could hear the low hum of voices from in the living room, so she figured everyone must be up.
"Just bring enough for a couple of days Kankurou. Kami-sama! Do I have to walk you through everything?" Temari's frustrated voice asked.
"Fine…fine, just go away and pack your own things. Why don't you go see how Gaara is doing?" the equally exasperated puppet master answered.
"Because Gaara doesn't need me to pack his bags for him! HE'S not retarded!" the blond shouted. Kankurou growled loudly, and Shia made her way into the kitchen before they could start throwing punches. The young brunette started putting groceries away.
"YOU'RE IMPOSSIBLE!" she heard Kankurou's voice scream.
"Well YOU'RE AN IDIOT!" Temari's voice screamed back. There was some loud stomping, and then a door slammed loudly, reverberating through the house. Shia couldn't hold back a giggle. They really were quite entertaining. After all the groceries were safely in the pantry, she walked out into the living room. There was Kankurou sitting cross-legged on the rug, and packing a bag.
"Morning Shia," he grumbled, looking up at her with irritated brown eyes. She smiled at him.
"Good morning Kankurou, is Gaara in his room then?" she asked, receiving a confused look. 'When did Gaara-san become Gaara? In fact, she's been calling him Gaara for the past week and a half. Why doesn't anyone tell me anything anymore?' he thought, nodding, and watching the young medic walk to her patient's room.
Gaara's Room
Gaara heard a soft rap on his door and immediately knew who it was. He felt his lips twitch in a smile, but forced it down. He liked his friend Shia, but for some reason he just wasn't comfortable letting down all his barriers just yet. Even so, it made him feel good that she didn't shun him just because he didn't exactly know how to be someone's friend. He was trying.
"Gaara, um….why are you packing?" she asked from behind him. He turned to face a wide eyed, confused looking nurse.
"I've got a mission," he said simply, throwing some more clothes into his bag. Shia's eyes widened, and worry flooded their depths.
"You…you can't," she said, her dark eyes locking with his. Gaara could see all the concern pouring out, and he felt a sharp pang in his heart. 'I really wish she wouldn't look at me like that,' he thought. (If we kill her she won't be able to ever again.) Shukaku suggested. Gaara ignored him.
"I have to go," he said, not looking away from her. Those dark eyes narrowed.
"What kind of mission?" she asked suspiciously. He let himself sit on the bed.
"My siblings and I have been ordered as backup in the Uchiha's retrieval mission," he explained. Shia felt concern bubble in her stomach along with a strong sense of anxiety.
"No…absolutely not. As your doctor I can not allow you to fight in your condition. You haven't fought in a long time, you could re-injure something," she said, sending him an angry, yet worried look. He knew she was just trying to look out for him. He knew that she was probably right, but he had to go. He owed Konoha a great debt, and if he could help Naruto Uzumaki in any way, it would make him feel that much better.
"I have to do this Shia," Gaara said with determination in his jade eyes. She closed her eyes and shook her head.
"You'll get hurt…I..you might have to fight someone really strong," she said, her voice quivering slightly. The redhead moved closer but did not touch her. Her blue eyes peered up at him through worried tears.
"You've done a fine job of taking care of me. I don't feel stiff at all, and my strength has returned to me. You said yourself that this last week was just going to be observing me train with my brother just to make sure everything is fine. If I have to fight, the sand will protect me, you don't have to worry," he said, feeling the need to console her. He didn't want to see her cry, something about seeing the girls in his life cry made him extremely uncomfortable.
"B..bu.t….I..I," she stuttered. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself.
"You stay here and train with your grandmother. I don't know how long this mission is going to take, but the council said that you are to stay here and wait to finish the mission upon my return," he explained. She nodded, and brought her hand up to lay on his shoulder.
"I…trust you," she said, making sure to look him in the eyes as she did. He nodded.
"Arigato," he said quietly, turning back to pack. 'She trusts me. I don't know why, but it makes me happy to hear someone say that,' he thought. He let himself feel the happiness for a few moments, liking how the emotion warmed his pained heart. Then quickly buried it, in fear that the feeling may never happen again. He heard her draw in a long shaky breath.
"I'll go make you guys breakfast before you go," she said. He 'hn'd', then heard the door open and shut.
Gates of Sunagakure (a half hour later)
The Sand Siblings stood at the gates of their village ready to set off and back up their new allies. Shia had walked with them to see them off. Worry contorted her innards into writhing snakes inside of her. 'What if he gets hurt? What if they all get hurt? I can't stand to see them hurt. Oh….I don't know what I'll do if he injures himself too bad,' she thought frantically.
"Shia…" she heard Gaara's cool monotone say. She turned her dark eyes on him, anxiety written in their depths. Temari smiled at the girl
"Don't worry about him Shia-chan. Gaara's a big boy. He can take care of himself," the blond assured her. Shia smiled weakly at them. Another pang hit the redhead's heart. He couldn't understand why it was so hard to see her look so worried for him.
"Yea, Shia…have some faith," Kankurou laughed. Shia snapped her navy gaze over to him with an apologetic look.
"No…I..of course I have faith in him!" she exclaimed, making Gaara's eyes widen in surprise, "I have faith in all of you." She smiled warmly at them all.
"Good, then…no worries," Temari said, grabbing the girl in a hug. Shia hugged her friend back tightly, and then it was Kankurou's turn. Both girls gave him a stern look of warning to which he just smiled and rose his hands in the air.
"I won't do anything funny," he promised, wrapping his arms around her and squeezing her in a bear hug. Her blue eyes widened and she gasped.
"Can't…breath," she managed. He cackled and let go.
"I'm sorry, hehe, guess I don't know my own strength," he said smiling. Shia caught her breath.
"It's okay…jeez you're almost as bad as Naruto," she muttered, gaining Gaara's attention.
"Oh…you mean that little blond brat?" Temari asked, Shia nodded.
"Though he does manage to crack my rib cadge every time he hugs me, I guess I can't complain, we're friends after all," the young medic said sighing. The two older Sabakus shared a laugh, while Gaara managed an amused smirk in front of his doctor.
"Well, we'll be off then," Temari said, her and Kankurou both turning to leave. Shia smiled back at them.
"Do your best!" she called from behind them. She watched their retreating backs. Temari and Kankurou both threw waves behind them, and Gaara just rose his hand. They were just outside of the gates when they heard the sound of feet pounding into the ground.
"Gaara!" the nurses voice called out. He'd barely turned when he felt something warm collide with, and latch onto him. His wide eyes fell to the person clinging to his waist, seeing a mass of chocolate hair dancing lightly in the dry desert wind. Shia squeezed him tight, and he felt at a loss of what to do.
"Sh..Shia…"
"Be safe…" she murmured into his chest, and he felt his heart thump hard against his ribs. What should he do? Should he return the gesture? (She's touching you! She's breaching your personal space! Kill her! KILL HER!)
"SHUT UP!" he cried, causing the girl to look up at him in surprise. Her wide blue eyes sent him an apologetic look, but she did not let go. He shook his head.
"I..I wasn't talking to you," he assured her, and she smiled. Burying her face into his shoulder she gave him one last squeeze, and then stepped back.
"I'm sorry, but…..I…just wanted to tell you to be careful. I should've asked before I hugged you like that. I know you don't like to be touched," she apologized. He regarded her for a moment. Again she was apologizing for something that wasn't her fault. 'It's not that I don't like to be touched. It's just that I'm afraid to…' he thought.
"I'm not angry with you," he told her, missing the warmth of her hug already. He wouldn't dare to reach out to her again. Especially with what Shukaku had been screaming. He kind of wished she'd do it again, but now he'd gone and made her think he didn't want her to touch him. Temari and Kankurou exchanged confused, worried glances behind him.
"Okay," she said, grabbing his hand and giving it a squeeze, "Be careful," she added, turning to walk back through the gates.
"I will," he said quietly, but he knew she hadn't heard. He turned and followed his siblings into the desert. He was determined to pay his debt to Konoha….to Naruto.
(A week later)
Gaara followed his siblings into their house. It had been about a week since they'd left, and it was quite early in the morning when they returned. All three attempted to be as quite as they could just in case Shia was still asleep. The young redhead and his older siblings had backed up Konoha with all their might, but in the end, the Uchiha was not recovered. He knew it must be eating away at Naruto right now to have failed at rescuing his friend. Gaara couldn't imagine the thought of losing a friend like that. Well, actually, he could. He was no stranger to betrayal, but still, to have a friend walk out on you for something as stupid as power…it must be painful.
The redhead walked into his room and tossed his bag onto the floor. He walked over to the window and opened it, letting the cool pre-sunrise air filter into the stuffy room. He thought back to his fight with Kimimaro. He'd learned something from it, despite how difficult and utterly painful the fight had been. He'd learned that, no matter what kind of person you are, there is someone who loves you.
Orochimaru had to be the most despicable piece of garbage on this green earth, and yet, Kimimaro loved him so much, he was prepared to die for him. He fought for the person that was precious to him, even though he was sick, and even though he knew he'd die soon. It didn't matter to Kimimaro if Orochimaru was evil..to him…he was a savior. It gave Gaara some hope, maybe one day, he'd find someone like that. Someone who knows about his past, and the terrible power that lies within him, but still wants to be there for him anyway. Someone who could see past the beast within him, and love him as he truly is.
He heard a shuffle from the bed, and spun quickly around to see what it was. There was a pile of shiny brunette hair framing the sleeping face of his doctor. He moved closer, quietly so that she wouldn't wake. 'But what's she doing in here?' he asked himself. Her face was relaxed into a contented smile, and his blankets were snuggled around her comfortably. She looked so peaceful, he wondered what it must be like…to sleep. He'd never slept a day in his life, in fear the demon inside him would take over and kill everything.
Her nose scrunched up as a lock of hair brushed against it. She whimpered irritated, and moved her head, trying to make it stop. Gaara almost reached out and tucked it behind her ear, but he restrained himself. What if she woke up? What if she didn't want him to touch her? It's true that they were now friends, but he felt he didn't have the right to go touching her whenever he felt like it. What if she woke up afraid that he was there? He decided it was best that he leave. Walking to the door he turned the knob slowly, and pushed the door open.
"Gaara..?" he heard a sleepy voice say from behind him. He turned around to see the nurse rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. The dark orbs flicked over to the clock, '5:00am', and then back to him. He said nothing, and he did not move. He just stared back into her foggy tired eyes. Then suddenly she was in front of him. 'When did she get so fast?' he thought, looking down at the girl who was currently eying him with concern.
"When did you get back? Are you injured? Are Temari and Kankurou okay? Are you tired? I'm sorry I was in here. See, I was cleaning the house while you three were gone, and I guess I fell asleep in here. I didn't mean to intrude in your personal space, but I guess I was just tired from training and I fell asleep. I hope you're not mad at me. Please don't be ma…."
"Shh…" he said, placing a finger against her lips. Her eyes widened at the gesture, and he had to admit he was shocked himself. It had to be the most gentle thing he'd ever done. The young redheaded shinobi allowed a small flicker of triumph to course his system at his small accomplishment. To be so gentle with someone was a huge deal for him, but he stamped out the feeling quickly so as not to jinx himself. Her wide eyes stared into his, and she looked extremely confused.
"I'm not angry with you," he stated in his usual tone, lifting his finger from her soft lips. She didn't say anything, and he wondered if he'd done something wrong. His eyes moved to the floor, and he slumped slightly. 'Is she scared?' he thought. (Of course she is! And she damn well should be! Let's kill her now, while we're so close. She seems so trusting. Stupid girl!) Shukaku said in his mind. Gaara pushed the raccoon away. Upon seeing the change in his body language Shia knew she'd made him upset. 'Oh no! Maybe he thinks I'm afraid of him again,' she thought. Surely enough, he spoke to confirm her thoughts.
"I didn't mean to frighten you," he said softly, feeling bad that he'd scared his first friend. He dared to look at her, only to find her smiling softly at him. Her hand came to rest on his chest, and gripped the cloth of his shirt lightly.
"No, don't apologize. I'm sorry I made you think I was afraid. I'm not scared of you Gaara," she said, looking into his aqua eyes with honesty,
"It's just that…you've never willingly touched me is all."
Gaara's light eyes were stuck on the hand that was putting a comfortable pressure on his chest. She was touching him again, and though Shukaku was raging in his mind, he didn't want to push her away. Never had anyone outside of his family been so bold as to touch him. His family hadn't even done so until recently. She wasn't afraid. His mind wandered to her statement.
"If you don't want me to touch you…" he started, but a soft hand was placed against his mouth. His aqua eyes darted to the girl in front of him.
"It's okay…I don't mind," she said softly, that friendly smile lighting her face again, "We're friends after all."
Gaara had the urge to do something…to hug her he thought…but he didn't want to startle her. Though she had just said that she didn't mind him touching her. He was still afraid of rejection. He was still afraid that this was all just an elaborate lie to gain his trust. And even though he couldn't see that coming from her…even though she didn't seem like that kind of person…he'd thought the same thing about Yashamaru. Her hand left his mouth to join the other on his chest.
Shia was trying to coax him into a hug, but he didn't seem to be getting the hint. She wanted to show him that it was okay for him to initiate physical contact between them. She wanted to show him she considered him just like all her other friends, and that he could hug her whenever he pleased. She wanted to, but he was so used to people being afraid of him, that he just couldn't imagine someone actually wanting to hold him. Knowing that fact made her want to squeeze him half to death and shout to the whole world how much she loved his friendship.
Shia felt her eyelids growing heavy once again. In their absence, she'd been training with her grandmother from the early morning into the night. She was exhausted to say the least, and she felt sleep winning the battle against her. Her hands clutched the material of her redheaded friend's shirt tightly, and she felt herself fall forward.
"You should go back to sleep," he said, pushing her up, and helping her towards the bed.
"Oh…no, I should really yawn do a check up, and I've got to tell my grandmother you've returned, and….yawn and…," he pushed her down, and pulled the sheet up over her shoulders.
"I'm fine, and I highly doubt you grandmother will be awake at this hour. You sleep, I'll wake you a little later," he said, watching her dark blue eyes disappear behind full dark lashes. She smiled at him with closed eyes.
"Okay…" she sighed out, relaxing into the bed. He could see sleep overtaking her, even though she was attempting to fight it. When he was sure she was asleep, he walked out into the living room to sit next to his brother on the couch.
(12:00pm)
Gaara walked back into his room to see the nurse up and apparently fresh from the shower. She was wrapped in a towel and frantically searching around the room for the clothes she'd left there. She dropped to her knees on the floor, and leaned under the bed to look. Aqua eyes traveled over her damp, pink skin to the hem of the towel which was rising up higher and higher on her bare legs.
The fluffy white towel moved higher and higher, exposing even more of her lean, shapely legs. He found he couldn't take his eyes away. 'I blame Kankurou for this,' he thought to himself angrily. She leaned over further, and he tore his eyes away. If he looked now, he'd see something he probably shouldn't. He cleared his throat loudly, causing the girl to hit her head on the underneath of the bed. She looked up at him, rubbing her head, and then her eyes snapped open wide.
"Gaara!" she gasped, her face going as red as his hair. She hugged the towel close to her nude form, and stared at him agape. His eyes averted from her face to stare straight out the window.
"I…didn't see anything," his voice said softly. Shia calmed herself, and pushed her body off the floor to sit on the bed. She risked a glance at Gaara, who was still set on not looking at her.
"It's okay…I'm not angry," she said, standing and walking over to him. He visibly stiffened when she laid her hand on his forearm. She looked up at him, hoping she hadn't made him angry. His aqua eyes still refused to look at her, and his posture was stiff. 'I'm making him uncomfortable,' she thought, taking her hand off of him.
"I'm sorry…I shouldn't have…I should have remembered you don't like it when I touch you," she said with a smile. Then he did look at her. One of his pale hands lifted from his side, and he almost let it fall to her shoulder, but he couldn't. Here she was, nude, in his room, standing so close, and Shukaku was yelling all sorts of perverse things in his head. He couldn't touch her; it wasn't safe…so he opted to let his hand fall back, inadvertently swiping his fingers against the warm damp flesh of her arm. She shivered a little.
"It's not that I don't like to be touched. I enjoy it when Temari hugs me, and I liked it when you did, but you're….you're not wearing anything," he said quickly, fighting that obnoxious heat on his face again. When he was sure it was gone, Gaara looked down at his nurse who was smiling at him.
"I'm….glad you like it when I hug you. All this time I though I was just being annoying," she said, giggling a little. He shook his head.
"No, I…I can't explain it to you right now. It's hardly a conversation for me to be having with you while you are standing in a bath towel, but one day, I'll tell you why I make it seem like I don't like to be touched," he explained, moving away from the door. He took a few steps into the room.
"You should go get dressed," he said, standing by the window and watching the lunch rush go by. He heard a few steps and then felt a pair of arms wrap around his waist. She was hugging him again, but the fact that she was in only a towel caused him to freeze up. His face was on fire, and he tried not to look at her so she wouldn't see.
"Shia…"
"Oh, right…sorry..hehe. I'll be back later, after my training," she said, releasing him, and walking towards the door.
"Could I come with you?" he heard himself ask. She gasped in the open doorway.
"Well, yea..I'm sure that won't be a problem," she said, "I'll be back for you in a few." He 'hn'd', and she left to dress.
Sunagakure Breakfast Shop
"Temari, what's on your mind? You seem distant lately," Kankurou asked, watching his sister fiddle with her breakfast.
"I'm okay, I've just been thinking is all," she said quietly.
Ever since they returned from Konoha, the blond Sand Sibling had been acting strange. He'd seen her little moment with the Nara boy when they were leaving. The smile she gave him…he hadn't seen her smile like that since before mother died. 'Does this have something to do with him? What's going on? People really don't tell me anything anymore,' he thought sadly.
"Is it that Nara?" he asked, a little peeved that she was lying to him. Her green-blue eyes looked up at him dancing with angry flames.
"Don't be ridiculous you baka! Why don't you go home and play with your dolls?" she snapped coldly, turning her face away so he wouldn't see the light blush on her features. He sighed heavily and continued to eat his food.
"I wonder what Gaara's up to," he thought out loud. Temari glanced at her younger brother.
"Well, I guess it's safe to say he's probably with Shia-chan right now," she said. Kankurou looked at his watch.
"Nah, she's training right now. You know, I think I wanna take a peek in on that. I've never actually seen her fight before. I wonder if she's any good," he said. Temari laughed.
"Well, I guess we could stop by for a visit. Training Field 1 I believe, is where she said her and her grandmother were," the blond explained.
"Right, then we'll stop by at like three so she's all warmed up, and too busy to notice we're there," Kankurou suggested.
"Sounds like a plan," Temari said, finishing her breakfast and searching herself for some money. Upon finding none, she threw a sweet smile at her little brother.
"Well, um….Gotta run!" she said, taking off down the street to the Kazekage building, and effectively sticking Kankurou with the bill. He pouted and placed the money on the table. He then stood, and grumbled his way to Kazekage Tower. 'Temari always sticking me with the bill. You'll pay big sister, you'll pay.'
Training Field 1
Shia flew at her grandmother so fast it was almost impossible to see. Her fist ignited and made forceful contact with the old woman's arm. The young girl then whipped her body around, sending a flaming kick at her grandmother's head. The old woman dodged however, and sent a flaming punch towards the younger girl's stomach. Shia was quicker though, and she flipped away to crouch just ten feet back. Gaara sat in silence watching his friend train. She was graceful, and strong. He didn't think she could fight so well, but then again, he'd never really asked any medical-nin if they could fight before. He'd never cared. She made some unfamiliar handsigns and he could feel her chakra pooling into her hands.
"HOIPPU NO KAJI!(Whip of fire)" Shia shouted, flames shooting from her finger tips in the shape of a whip. As fast as she summoned it, it was wrapped around her grandmother's body, and throwing the old woman some feet away. The Akito elder smacked into the wall hard, and fell to the ground. Shia's eyes widened, and she rushed over, relinquishing the fire whip.
"I'm okay Shia, I'm fine..it's about time for a lunch break any way. You have an hour while I heal my injuries. I'll see you after," her grandmother said, waving her wrinkled hand to shoo the girl. Shia reluctantly left her stubborn grandma to walk over to Gaara. She looked a little frazzled, but plopped down next to him nonetheless.
"I think I went a little too hard on her," she mumbled, taking her towel and wiping the sweat from her brow. Her tight spandex-like fighting suit clung to her like a second skin. She turned her dark blue eyes on him.
"I'm hungry what about you?" she asked smiling. He 'hn'd', and they both got up to start walking towards the house.
"I think I need a shower," she stated, trying to pry at the cloth that was sticking to her. He nodded his agreement, and they both walked into the Sabaku residence for her lunch break.
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People who are Important: Book One