Sand and Sun - Chapter 7

[temaridesertstorm]

The girl found herself in the dark once again, the same choking darkness as always. She was used to this by now, but the feeling always hung in her thoughts. The familiar waves on the back of her legs reminded her of what was coming. Just as she opened her eyes again, the voice came, calling out with the exact same message. Felling she needed to respond, she opened her mouth, but shut it when she remembered the result. There was nothing she could do to help the guy, but she wanted to deeply to help him. Once again, the voice called out, more pain in it than ever. She turned around, only to find the person staring back at her. He was just standing there, covered entirely in shadows, just staring at her. She took a step back, wondering why this time was different. The person took a step towards her to match, still hidden in shadow. In fear, the girl opened her mouth to scream, but she made no noise. Looking back at the figure, she took another step back. As she did, something smacked her on the back of the head and the darkness snapped away.
Kira jumped awake, panting heavily. Gaara looked at her with a confused look. She had fallen asleep, lying on the floor. It seemed to be very late at night.
“Is something wrong? You were screaming in your sleep,” He said, “I shook you awake.”
She sighed. “I’m sorry, I’ve just been having bad dreams lately.”
“Would you like to tell me about it?” he asked, sitting on the floor next to her.
“Well, in my dream, I’m in the dark, and I can’t see anything. I know there’s water, because I feel it underneath me. Then I’m just standing there, and I heard this voice. It calls out to me, or someone. It sounds like the person is calling out for someone. Every time it gets louder and closer, and every time I turn around, I fall backwards, unable to see who the person is. Last time, I saw that the person was crying, and this time, I was able to face the person. I was a bit scared, so I stepped back, and he stepped forward. I tried to scream, but nothing I say in that place ever works. So, I got really scared, and then something smacked me on the back of the head.”
“Seems that you have a bit of a problem with that,” he replied, “I don’t understand dreams because I can never fall asleep.”
“You can’t?” she asked, looking at him.
“No, if I fall asleep, something bad will happen.”
“I see. That must be very tiring for you, not being able to sleep.”
He sighed. “It is. If you’ll excuse me, I have to do something. I’ll be right back.”
He stood up and walked out of the room, leaving her alone in his office. She stood up and walked to the desk, which was covered in more paper than she had remembered. Just as she was about to touch a paper on the top of a pile, a ninja walked in.
This ninja was dressed in a beige-ish vest and had a headband with an hourglass imprinted on it.
“Excuse me, this is the Kazekage’s office. I’ll have to ask you to leave,” he said sternly.
She looked up from the papers at him, but she didn’t say anything.
“I said, you have to leave, now.”
“Oh, I have permission to be in here,” she replied.
“And you have permission from whom, may I ask?”
“Does it really matter? I have permission, that’s all.”
The ninja frowned. “If you don’t specify who gave you permission, I’ll have to force you out.”
She frowned back. “And if you don’t pull your head out of your ass, I’ll do it for you.”
Suddenly, the ninja pulled out a kunai and pushed her to the ground. He held the weapon over her, holding her down with his foot, ready to attack. “You rude child. I’ll tech you a lesson.”
He threw the kunai down at her, and she closed her eyes, waiting for impact, but it never came. Opening her eyes, she saw a wall of sand between her and the ninja. More sand had wrapped around the ninja and had removed him from overtop of her.
Gaara stood in the doorway. “Are you trying to attack someone in my office?” he asked the ninja.
“I-I’m sorry, lord Kazekage. I was just…”
“I don’t like people who attack others, especially not in my office. I want you to leave. Now. This girl is with me, so no one goes near her, got it?”
The sand placed the ninja on the ground and he bowed nervously. “Yes, understood.” Straightening himself, he left the room.
Gaara walked over and help Kira to her feet. “Were you scared?”
She nodded, wrapping her arms around him and burring her face in his chest.
“Don’t worry. I’m here. I said I was going to protect you, and that’s what I’m going to do. It’s alright. I won’t leave you again.”