Because I Met You

Chapter 64: Final Decision

"It's been so long since we all ate together like this."

Temari says as she holds a piece of grilled pork belly in her chopsticks. She definitely got much better at cooking and I learn a lot while cooking with her.

"Yeah, it feels nice to be with everyone like this."

I tell them with a genuine smile.

"After that mission with Konoha, it does feel like a relief to be back to normal life like this."

Kankuro replies. I'm really curious about what the mission they went on is about.

"So what was the mission? What did Konoha need help for?"

I look at them, awaiting their answer.

"Sasuke deserted the village. It was a retrieval mission to get him back."

Gaara says with a very matter of fact tone. He does that a lot when he's trying to hold back his emotions. I decide not to pry yet. I'll wait until we're both alone.

"What about you, Kiu? What were you up to during the time we were away?"

Temari breaks the short silence.

"Me? Just the usual, carrying out my missions as best as I can. Also now trying to avoid getting assassinated by the Sunagakure council..."

I scoff at the situation I'm in. It's funny how they moved on from trying to assassinate Gaara to now attempting it on me. I guess I shouldn't expect them to change their ways.

"What?!"

They all said in unison. I start telling them what happened in their absence and how Mari and Hana were in on it. I don't really mention anything about Ryota, since it's unnecessary. As I recount things, I notice Gaara getting visibly angry. When I'm done, he gets up and heads upstairs.

"I don't think he's in a good mood..."

Kankuro says with slight sarcasm.

"Well, that's understandable. After what you told us, Kiu... Maybe you should go see him."

Temari tells me. I nod and head upstairs after Gaara. I get there and find him in his room, sitting on the bed, leaning forward, holding his head in his hands. I go sit next to him and put a hand on his back. He lifts his head up and looks at me with sad eyes.

"Kiu... I never would want you to feel the same way I felt back then."

"It's alright, Gaara. This is different, since I know I have you and a lot of other people who have my back..."

I'm trying to convince myself of that as well. Is that enough to just live on? He holds my hand in his. I feel myself blushing at the contact.

"Uhm... so you said that Sasuke ran away? What's that all about?"

My voice cracks a bit in the beginning, but thankfully Gaara doesn't notice that.

"Well, I don't know if you've heard of what happened to the Uchiha clan a few years ago, but basically Sasuke's older brother slaughtered them all and only left Sasuke alive. As a result, Sasuke has been trying to get strong enough to get revenge on his brother. Orochimaru, during the invasion of Konohagakure, put a curse mark on Sasuke. That curse mark, alongside his desire for revenge, led him to seek out Orochimaru so that he could get stronger. Our mission was to stop him from getting away and retrieve him safely."

This is a lot to take in. I have heard of what had happened to the Uchiha clan, but very briefly and it was from gossipers around town. Other village affairs are not usually the focus of conversations.