Within the Hourglass
Naruto FF; Gaara + OC
Prologue: Death
I could feel hot blood dripping down my neck as I struggled to escape, the small blade digging slowly into my flesh. I gasped and pulled free, crawling away, leaving a bright trail in my wake. The priest, however, came forward, cutting off my momentary freedom. He grabbed my arms and peered into my eyes. The desperate earnest staring back frightened me even more than the weapon he carried.
"Mirai…I hoped this would go easy" he whispered and I struggled in his clutches as he dropped the knife and pulled me close, kissing the top of my head. My hair bristled, but for a moment I relaxed. This was how it used to be, before… but I couldn't bring myself to think of it. Rage flooded my face and the sand around my body levitated in fear, waiting for him to finish the attack at any moment. All too soon I was struggling once again. He pulled away, angry, and I fought his grasp further.
"Don't touch me," I hissed, choking, and he smirked, amused.
"Are you going to kill me, Mirai? Using the gift you gave me?" He chuckled darkly and sent a wave of dusty sand over our heads with one hand, the other still holding me captive by the wrist.
I took a deep breath and held the gash on my neck closed with my free palm. I only had a few minutes left before I bled to death. No time to kill him.
"No," I replied, stuffing the conflicting emotions to the back of my mind. "But something has to be done."
He snorted and threw me back to the ground. "And what can you do? You won't maim me, you won't kill me!" His booming laughter echoed across the temple as he plucked his bloody knife from the sand.
I hesitated, raising my head, looking him straight in his sea-green eyes, and then grasped the tiny hourglass resting on my bosom. His eyes widened as he realized what I was planning.
"Goodbye…Shukaku."