[Vignette] Naruto: A Worth Beyond

[graychalk]

Fandom: Naruto
Characters: Kankurou, Gaara
Rating/Status: G / 100, complete
Timeline: After manga ch.281/vol.31-32
Summary: Kankurou notices Gaara sitting by the window a lot more lately.

Author's Note: Drabble written for naruto100's "No Longer" challenge, with bonuses for window and two Sand sibs. Been wanting to participate in one of the challenges there for a while now, and thought I'd finally give it a go. My first try at writing a fic with an exact 100 words count.


A Worth Beyond

There were nights, lately, when Kankurou often caught Gaara sitting by the window and staring out into the desert for hours on end.

He would see him flexing his hands absently in a motion that was all too familiar, with sand hovering just slightly off the ground around his feet. Moments like these made him suddenly remember, as though realizing it for the first time all over again, that Shukaku was no longer residing inside Gaara's body.

Sometimes, like tonight, Gaara would turn around to look at him, and Kankurou would almost imagine those eyes asking him, What am I worth now?

Comments

[fourthage.livejournal.com]

100 words exactly are harder than they look. I think you did a great job with this. I don't see too many pieces set after the loss the of Shukaku. I hope you stick around.

[graychalk]

Thank you for commenting and for the encouragement! 100 words really are harder than they look, but I had fun trying to make it fit. I reckon I'd be doing more of these if I can. :)

The thought of Gaara without Shukaku is always nagging me at the back of mind for some reason. There's a whole lot of possibilities for how he, Sand, and just the people around him in general may take it. Since the "aftermath" hasn't been touched upon in the manga at all, I keep coming back to wonder about it.

[fourthage.livejournal.com]

I know! I mean, will Suna still accept him as Kazekage if his main source of power is gone? I know the main story is concerned with Naruto and his and Sakura's quest to drag Sasuke's sorry ass home, but I'm really hoping for some follow-up with Gaara.

[graychalk]

Exactly! I keep jumping back and forth between wondering if Suna would think it's a good or a bad thing that Shukaku is gone. It's such irony, really. They fear him and see him as a monster for being Shukaku's vessel, yet they want its power. What I really hope would be touched upon, though, is also Gaara's feelings about it and how the loss of Shukaku has really affected his ability. Obviously he still has control of sand, but I'm guessing he no longer has that automatic sand defense thing going anymore. Being one who is constantly pissed off at Sasuke (and his idiotic choices), I much rather the focus shift to Suna for a bit...

[fourthage.livejournal.com]

Sasuke is just . . . special. Very special. The only reason I want him to get saved is because Naruto and Sakura will be miserable if he isn't. He was fun as his bratty self in the early volumes, and he and Naruto kind of broke my heart in their waterfall fight, but now? Shut up, Sasuke.

Love the Sand sibs, though.

[dwlikeebeinlost.livejournal.com]

I really liked this a great deal.

Gaara is bad ass, and yet, so vulnerable.

::le sigh::

[graychalk]

Gaara's vulnerability breaks my heart whenever I think about it. ;_;

Thank you for sharing your thoughts about the fic with me. :)