I don't know why I'm suddenly attracted to TentenGaara. Oh well. Gaara's so beautiful; he needs someone.

--

Just Because

A dying sun dipped low into the West, colored with the bloodstains of a fading rose.

Silhouetted against the burning intensity, two figures sat, close enough to be touching shoulders, but with the merest wisp of space separating them. There was no need for physical contact, not when your hearts beat in constant unanimity.

Tenten. Wild, resolute, free. Heaven. Sky. Something all took for granted.

Gaara of the Sand. Feared, respected, avoided. A pawn the powerful exploited in greed.

She was an orphan in reality. An overlooked shadow – a little seven-year-old girl forced to discover how to be her own parent, the hard way.

He was an orphan in mentality. A precious weapon. It took another child, one with the soft eyes of his lost mother to dissolve his mask of sand.

She had reached a hand out to him, across the void of isolation. He had taken it, and stepped out to meet the sun.

Two years, it has been, and not a word spoken. There was no call for words, not when their minds already knew. But she couldn't resist just one little thing.

"Gaara-kun?"

"Hm."

"You have such pretty eyes."

"Hn."

And…maybe one more.

"Gaara-kun?"

"Hm?"

"I love you."

"Hn."

A weighty silence followed.

"Why?" The red-haired shinobi murmured.

Tenten took a moment to ponder the question.

"Because."

"Just because?"

"Just because."

For what use are additional words and caresses when your spirits are already one?

Owari

--

It's just a short, poignant one-shot I was suddenly inspired to write right in the middle of working on Raspberries. Inspiration sure chooses weird times to hit, like midnight right when my mom's screaming. Yep, weird times indeed.

Gaara: I'm in love with Tenten? Crazy author.

Tenten: I'm in love with Gaara? Okay. -kisses Gaara on the cheek-

Gaara: -turns red and hides under a hat-

Aww...they're adorable.

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