one_long_mission | [Open] Quiet Contemplation

Entry tags:

[Open] Quiet Contemplation

The most beautiful flowers are those no man shall ever see.

The redhead was sitting on a bench near the stone-and-glass landmark of the village, a pretty black parasol patterned in red, abstract swirls held open to protect her from the light drizzle. Her posture said that she was deep in thought, from the way she traced idle patterns on the gourd at her feet with her free hand.

It hadn't surprised her to wake up alone, but that note... Gaara was fairly certain it had been left by Uchiha Sasuke, but the why eluded her. What had he meant by that, anyway? He was honestly a confusing person, and she didn't quite know what to make of him.

Aside from that, her head was quiet. Occasionally, she caught the murmurings of her tenant, but this close to the full moon, she should have been inundated with his inane grumbling. Instead, she received only stray comments, and most were relatively tame. It seemed, after his encounter with Sasuke, he didn't want to cause too much trouble. She'd even been allowed to sleep...

Slowly, the rain faded to the barest mist and, as the sun peaked out, a small cluster of bright flowers unfurled near her feet. She stared at them quietly, once again recalling that note.

...she was so confused...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

And the Uchiha in question was walking along nearby, hardly seeming to mind the drizzle, light droplets clinging to his hair. He was happily draining a small can of tomato juice.

His eyes did not miss that red hair nor that large gourd, and he strolled over. "Yo~" was his customary greeting. "Hm~ flowers do open up to their vivid colors in the sunshine~" yes, he was reffering to that ray of light coming down on her.

She almost missed him, because she really was lost in thought. It wasn't until he greeted her verbally that she looked up, tilting that parasol back a bit so she could see who was hailing her. Gaara blinked at him, taking note of the damp nature of his clothes and the water dripping lightly from his hair.

"...Sasuke-san," she greeting at last, smiling a little in spite of herself. The comment about flowers made her nod. "A peculiar breed," she agreed, lightly nudging one of the blossoms with a foot. Of course she missed the way he'd meant it. But since the rain had all but stopped, she folded the parasol and set it aside - watch all that sunshine spill over her hair again, making the curls shine prettily.

"I apologize - for the other night. I had not meant to fall asleep on you." Just clueless as to how that could have sounded~

"Ahah~ Hey, don't mind the other night~" he waved a hand. "I fell asleep on you, I guess, so we're sorta even!" he shrugged. Nevermind that he had slept because he needed to.. ebcause hadn't -she- also slept because she direly needed to?

"How've you been since then?" he inquired, running a hand through his fringe to get a few droplets off.

Her lips settled in the very faintest of pouts at the casual brush-off of her apology; those were rather rare, you know. "I invited you to sleep," she pointed out in that soft, clipped way she had. But since he didn't seem upset, she let the subject drop. Instead, she shifted on the bench to make a bit of room, if he wanted to sit, and tried not to stare at him.

Gaara paused at the question though, dropping her gaze to the red curls trailing over her shoulder. "...Shukaku has been quiet - strangely so, given that the full moon was only a few days ago."

"Oh. Right. You did invite me to." he laughed sheepishly. "So then since it was the point, nothing bad about you sleeping too, huh?"

"Quiet huh?" he tapped his chin in thought. "Well, he's probably learned somethin then. He's not sulkin or anythin is he?" because that would be somewhat funny and childish a thing to do.

"...I suppose. Even so, to have collapsed like that..." She was embarrassed, all right? She honestly couldn't ever remember fainting before. She was certain she did not want a repeat experience. "I slept for quite a long time, though, and if I dreamed...I do not recall." Always a plus.

Since he didn't seem inclined to sit down, she crossed one leg over the other and relaxed; she'd forgone the red jacket for today, but she was still in long sleeves, pants, and a mandarin collar. "I am uncertain. I do not regularly converse with Shukaku. The silence does not seem to be oppressive, but..."

"It's okay~ That sand actually caught you better than I did." he scratched at the back of his head. "So, ahah~ I actually didn't do much." all he did was write a criptic note.

He wasn't going to sit anywhere, not when his clothes were somewhat wet. He looked good enough standing, no? "Well, maybe he's spending time thinking." if he was that bijuu, he'd have lots to think about.

The tiniest of blushes rose to Gaara's cheeks. "...you tried to catch me?" That was honestly one of the nicest things she'd ever heard. "My sand acts on its own, so..." Given her preference, she might have, ah, liked it if he had caught her. Not that she'd tell him that, goodness. But yes - that note. She was trying to decide how to bring it up in a tactful way.

Of course he looked good standing, particularly with the way the sunlight sparkled off those water droplets in his hair.

"Perhaps. Although we have never gotten along," understatement of the century, "I have no trouble admitting that Shukaku is rather intelligent. It would not surprise me to learn that my tenant passes much time thinking."

"I think I suceeded for uh... a tenth of a second? That sand kinda made sure to keep me away." he gave a sheepish grin.

And yes, he looked good in -any- position, actually.

"If he's as intelligent as you say then, he'll spend a while thinking on what happened that day he crossed the last Uchiha's path."

"...it does that," was the soft murmur. It might have come out a little bitter, though. "Because of my sand, it is difficult to be closer to anyone." She hadn't meant it in a physical sense, though that was certainly just as accurate.

Of course he did.

"Perhaps... If nothing else, the respite is nice." She tipped her head back, closing her eyes and basking in the warmth of the sun's rays when they poked through the clouds. "...very nice..."

"I can't say I ever had anything else in my head, but so far I,ve seen the kyuubi and yours, and it uh... sorta makes me glad to be just me, heh. But anyways, s'nice to hear you can enjoy some peace."

He paused, moving just a bit closer. "You should try... talking to him, if you can. Bit by bit..." dark eyes were set on her. "Menma's done it, and it took a while, but it's possible... to reach an understanding."

A faint sigh escaped her, but she didn't open her eyes. "It is...reassuring, to know that I am never alone. That there is always someone there, even if it happens to be a bijuu. But Shukaku is..." How to describe this...? "Shukaku is difficult," she decided at last. "From what I understand, the other bijuu did not suffer imprisonment in an inanimate object and, since it was one of my predecessors who did it, he has not taken kindly to me or my promotion to Kazekage."

She smiled faintly. "On the other hand... It would be nice...to be able to talk to him in the same manner that Naruto speaks to Kurama..." When Gaara opened her eyes, she paused, finding those dark eyes fixed on her and that Sasuke was a bit closer. "...I hope that such a thing does, one day, become a reality for us."

"It can become a eality. Just try. And try again. Don't give up. Only you can do this... for yourself, and for Shukaku. Even if I offered to help you, I'm a stranger. I'd do more bad than good." he shook his head. "And it's not because I would have bad intentions. You are the one closest to him... only you can work to heal what pains him." he knew, everyone suffered in smaller or larger ways. No one was devoid of it, but sometimes only specific people could provide healing.

For a long moment Gaara only looked up at him, obviously thinking rather hard about something. Then she reached very carefully for his hand and gave it a faint squeeze.

"...you are very kind to me," she noted. "And I thank you for that, as well as for what you have done for...us." Referring obviously to herself and Shukaku. "One day we will be able to understand each other better. I am certain of it." That obstinacy could be a boon, too.

There was a shocked blink. Either he was shocked that someone actually was touching him, or that this touch had no murderous sand. Maybe a bit of both.
"Nice to hear~ And thanks... for the compliment." he purred. No, really, it was rare for him to be seen as anything else than flirt, but this place did seem to trigger a need for that other side of him recently.

With the rain having slowed down, people were making their way into the marketplace more. While others from the household ran their errands, Itachi decided to wait at a little tea house he hadn't seen before.

Upon coming inside, he was pleasantly surprised to notice the familiar chakra of the Gaara he'd met a few weeks before.

Unfortunately, he had no idea that the tea this venue served was all mixed with various kinds of alcohol. Some, far easier to taste than others.

After having her fill of sitting outside and trying to puzzle out that note - which had come to a whopping failure because she still didn't get it - the redhead decided that she was surprisingly hungry. Presumably, it was thanks to Sasuke's threat against Shukaku that she didn't feel vaguely nauseous at the thought of food.

So saying, she'd found a little tea house and decided it would suffice. And it served liquor in tea. She didn't usually drink much, but it had been a while - the last time had been at a celebratory party for the end of the war, with her Konoha friends, Naruto, her siblings... She unstrapped the gourd and set it aside, following it with her lilac vest and the red coat.

Best to be comfortable if she was going to be here for a while. She'd already had quite a lot by the time she realized someone was here that she knew. She offered the tiniest of smiles. "Itachi-san," she greeted politely, and gestured elegantly. "Would you like to join me?"

Who'd have ever thought she'd sit and drink with a former Akatsuki member?

Itachi smiled back. It would likely be a little while before he was being looked for (and the wheelchair sitting outside the little tea house would be a fantastic clue anyway) "... All right. That would be nice..."

His walk was slow, and a little bit stiff, but he soon sat down beside her. A cup was quickly placed in front of him. It matched her's, and the teapot already sitting on the table.

"I hadn't seen this place before..." he noted, glancing around. The people seemed a little lively for a tea house. But the break in the rain probably accounted for that. "Do you like their tea?"

She watched him as he sat, poised to catch him in case he fell, but he seemed to make it to the floor on his own and she was able to relax. She lifted the cup to her lips, sipping quietly, and murmured her thanks to the prompt waitress - but waved the woman off when she reached for the teapot. She doubted Itachi would read too much into it if she poured his tea for him.

Gaara managed it gracefully despite the fact that she was on her sixth teapot - some of the staff were giving her awed looks - and pushed a plate of dango at him. "The tea is meant to be somewhat potent, I think," she replied calmly, nibbling her own skewer of dango.

He accepted a stick of dango, and took a small bite. It was good, so he anticipated that the tea, potent or not, was likely going to be good too.

He really had no idea what she meant by 'potent,' though until he picked up his cup and took a sip. It tasted... very strange. It was strong, that was for sure. And bitter. So much so, that he coughed as it went down.

It was actually some of the best dango she'd had - there was a small tea shop on the road between Konoha and Suna that had the best, but this was a close second. Gaara could only eat sweets with tea, where the bitterness and the sweetness melded nicely.

She gave Itachi a concerned look when he began coughing, immediately offering him a napkin and very lightly patting his back. "Are you all right...?"

"You... weren't kidding..." he coughed again. "when you... said the tea... was strong..."

He took another sip, wondering how the flavor had taken him so strongly by surprise. It had just as sharp of a bite this time too, and he actually dropped the cup.

"I rarely 'kid'," was the dry response.

She caught the cup, though, and set it aside, eyeing him over the rim of her own as she drained it like it was water. "Perhaps you should try something milder?" she suggested. It hadn't occurred to her that he didn't know there was liquor in this tea, in all honesty, since it'd said it quite clearly on the sign.

"Gotcha now..." he slumped into her before he even realized he slumped into her.

And for the record, his eyesight had already deteriorated to the point where reading was an almost impossible challenge. Whatever was on that sign, save for the big words of 'tea house' out front, he completely missed.

"Wha-?" she began, then stiffened as soon as his weight settled against her. This was - she had no idea what to do about this. At last she sighed and shifted, carefully so that he didn't fall. "...two sips and you are already like this...?"

She shook her head, downed her cup, and waved the waitress over. "May I try the hibiscus blend, and have a glass of water for my...friend?" she asked politely. The woman nodded and left, returning soon with water for Itachi and a new pot of tea for Gaara.

This one was apparently a lot stronger, though, because even she blinked at the first sip. "Hm."

"Already... like what?" he mumbled, leaning completely against her now.

Okay, she gets no personal space, what. The question made her blink, though, and she elaborate with, "...you seem somewhat inebriated, Itachi-san." The second cup of the hibiscus blend went the way of the first and - ah. There was the familiar sense of warmth. Her cheeks were probably just a tad bit pink now.

Well, he wasn't leaning on her, per se. It just happened to be the direction in which he slumped. Set him upright, and he may slump in just about any direction, and probably laugh about it. But as of right now?

"... Funny..." he giggled through a grin. He'd had tea, not sake! What was Gaara even thinking? "You sand folks... silly..."

Which was precisely why she hadn't sat him back up. For all she knew, he'd slump back and hit his head and she'd be blamed. It was easier to just leave him be.

..except that he was giggling at her, and that was just weird. She was a little affronted at being called 'silly', too, but in the end she just quietly sipped her tea.

By the fourth cup the cumulative effects finally hit her and she blinked down at the table, cheek warm. Apparently the hibiscus blend had been just what she'd needed.

What wasn't there to giggle about? Her hair was red. Her chakra was really really bright. The sky was blue. Itachi was... really drunk.

He hiccuped a little as he tried to sit up on his own, only to fall face first into her lap.

...her red hair was funny to him? Ouch. Gaara would definitely agree that her companion was drunk, though.

Particularly when he fell in her lap. Now, under normal circumstances, she would have immediately pushed him away. But right now she was feeling pleasantly relaxed, and warm, and...

"...you have nice hair." She petted it idly.

Guess who else is a little drunk...

Itachi giggled at that. He felt kind of like a cat with someone scratching behind his ears. And he answered appropriately with a 'meow' and something that sounded vaguely like a 'purr' until it turned not so vaguely into a cough.

Oh dear. No, Itachi, don't meow-

Too late, Gaara's already giggling quietly. It wasn't not a bad sound, actually, though it was pretty rare to hear. She kept petting him, though, lightly tucking that long hair behind his ear.

Even in this state she can tell that the cough is bad, though, and she carefully shifted him so that she could pat his back.

It was as if they were brewing catnip or something.

It was almost impossible to tell whether Itachi was laughing gleefully or wheezing as he gasped for air. (He was still meowing, regardless...) But the fact that she could feel every ridge of his spine from under that shirt helped explain how he got so very drunk so very fast.

Yeah, that probably had something to do with it. Gaara, due to her relatively decent upbringing, was a relatively healthy weight, curvy and slender, muscled. But the factor working the most in her favor was Shukaku, who apparently absorbed alcohol like a sponge.

She downed the rest of her fifth cup of hibiscus tea, poured the rest of the pot into the cut, and drank that as well. And now she was very warm, and still petting Itachi. His hair, his cheek, his neck~

She got very touchy-feely when she was drunk. >__>

And he'd pretty much curled up in her lap, awkwardly draped in a face-down position that only drunkenness could have produced. One foot was up by her shoulder. His head was under the table. And an arm had somehow wrapped itself around a leg.

"You're... soft..." he giggled, playing with the edge of her shoe like a cat would a piece of string.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Open] Quiet Contemplation

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

You asked for it.

That I did~

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject