Sand and Sun - Chapter 5

[temaridesertstorm]

The girl found herself in the dark again, the lack of light choking her mentally. Closing her eyes, she waited, the waves rippling up against her legs, seeming higher than before. Once again, the voice called out again, this time as loud as when it had ended before. It was speaking something a little different though, as if more of the message was allowed through.
“Where are…” it said, echoing back louder in the confined darkness, “Where are…”
She kept her eyes closed, letting the voice grow closer to her, waiting for the time when the voice was closest. It was even worse than the last time, almost screaming at her, pain echoing through each word. The words buried themselves into her head, striking her mind with each time they were said. Finally, she gave out, opening her eyes wide, and turning to face the voice. This time, she could see the person. It was a boy from the figure, but the rest of him was in shadow, his face hidden from her. Just as she wanted to step forward, to ask him what he meant and why he was calling, but the ground gave out beneath her like always, dropping her backwards.
Kira woke up with a headache and a sore back. She finally lifted herself out of bed and walked down the stairs, grunting with each step. Temari and Kankuro looked up from what they were doing when she came down.
“Morning,” they both said together.
“Good morning,” she yawned, “What are you doing?”
“Oh, well, promise to keep it quiet,” Temari said in a hushed voice.
She blinked. “Um, of course. What is it?”
“Well, today’s kind of a special day,” Kankuro replied, “It’s Gaara’s birthday, but it’s a touchy subject to even bring it up.”
“It is? Why is that?”
Neither on responded at first, but Kankuro continued. “When Gaara was born, our mother died. Our father also died a few years ago.”
“Oh,” she mumbled, “I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”
“That’s alright,” Temari said.
“Then, what are you doing?”
They both blushed. “Nothing.”
She blinked. “Okay then…”
Suddenly, the door opened and Gaara walked in, closing it carefully behind him. He looked up and saw everyone staring at him.
“You mind?” he said, his almost permanent frown twisting slightly, “I just came back to get something. You don’t have to stare like I broke in.”
“Sorry,” Temari sighed, leaning against the table.
Kira shuffled her feet, “Um, Gaara?”
He looked at her. “Do you want something?”
“No,” she replied quickly, “I just…um….want to say…”
“Get on with it. I don’t have time for this.”
“I want to say…Happy birthday,” she said, leaning over and kissing him on the cheek.
He stared at her with wide eyes. She blushed madly and ran back upstairs.
“That was…..unexpected…” Kankuro mumbled, looking at the stairs.
Gaara coughed and walked up to his room, grabbing what he needed. Then he proceeded down the hall. Kira’s door was closed shut, and the room was completely silent. He turned his head away from it for a minute, but his eyes didn’t lave the doorknob. Finally, he walked down the stairs and left, closing the door behind him.
Kira sat in her room, panting silently. ‘Did I just…do that?’ she thought, blushing.
The familiar wave of sleeplessness overtook her as it usually did from her lack of sleep, and she laid her head on the pillow. Closing her eyes, she fell asleep.