Chapter 2
The way I am working this story is kind of weird. The main sort of memories will be put into the first few chapters. The actual 'Life Partner' will end but instead lots of other chapters will come afterwards. These chapters will have bits from Meiko's life before Gaara and bits from there lives together.
I'm also being extra cruel because the reason behind Meiko won't be explained until those later chapters. It just doesn't fit with the main bits. Sorry.
Now, shall we dance?
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The woman made a few meeping noises and started to twitch. Gaara stroked her hair and kissed her forehead.
"Sssh no more nightmares." He whispered. "No more nightmares."
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When they got home it was late, very late.
"Mmm, you live a long, long, long, long, long, long, long….." the cat trailed off. Gaara looked down at her. She was curled up in his arms sound asleep. He presumed the way she meant to finish the sentence was something along the lines of 'distance away from the animal shelter.' It had been a bit of walk he had to admit. Two hours. Moderate really. One of those two hours had been spent full of purring and lots of animated talking about home. Well on Meiko's part. The other hour had been spent getting quieter and quieter until she had finally drifted into silence, except for the purring.
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Gaara took her up to the spare room. He had never had a pet before but he had had guests, and guests stayed in the guest bedroom. (Well duh!)
He tucked in the bed and turned the lights off. Meiko murmured blearily, she didn't like the loss of warmth. The door clicked shut and he retired to his bedroom. He started reading some mission statements and checking over supply lists.
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"Kaoru-niichan?" she called, voice wavering. Her pale feet took tiny steps. The nightdress she had on was white, far too white. It should be dirty, she remembered that. But here everything was wrong.
The world was pitch black. Everything was far too quiet. She willed her heart to beat slower and quieter, in case he should hear. She stepped forward and tripped on something. She fell and landed in something wet. The smell made her realise what it was before sight. That metallic smell that made her gut wrench. Panic flooded her and her breathing sped. She turned around. And screamed. The twisted, cut of corpse of a woman, vaguely familiar to her, was under her feet. She scrabbled away and clamped a hand over her mouth. Had he heard? But no sound had come out. The scream had shaken her entire body but it never passed her lips. Good.
She continued walking, looking for her brother. Then she saw him. He was standing, looking at her sadly but smiling. She rushed up to hug him but was stopped. Bars. Floating in the air. She couldn't get passed. She reached a pale thin arm through and her brother held her hand. She smiled. A single tear fell from his eye. Then the booming started and wordless yelling. She screamed and this time sound came out. It echoed around them, stinging her ears and making her cry. Her brother was sinking into the floor. Ripples of water, no, blood, were sent from his feet, ankles, shins, knees. He was sinking to fast! She wouldn't be able to say goodbye.
"Kaoru-niichan!" she yelled, screamed, begged. He smiled softly at her.
"Run." He said calmly. "Run." And then he disappeared and the booming got louder and she was screaming and something was shaking her and
"Meiko-san, Wake Up!" Gaara was shaking her. She stared at him, tears rolling down her cheek. Then she jumped at his chest and started sobbing, her little body shaking uncontrollably.
"Don't let him hurt me. Please, please, please don't let him hurt me." Gaara was in shock. Not only had he come in to find the cat struggling in the sheets and screaming her head off, now she was actually seeking comfort from him. Him! No one had ever done that before. He had no idea what to do. So he sat there, supporting the cat against his chest and stroking her back. It seemed to work because she calmed down. Snuffling lightly, she looked up at him.
"Can I sleep in your bed?" he nodded. And she smiled.
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"Don't you sleep?" he shook his head. "Oh." She sounded upset. Next thing he knew, a warm body was curled up on his lap. He looked down. Meiko nuzzled his thigh then seemed to fall straight to sleep. He smiled, he didn't know why, he just did. Then he started to scratch her head and continued working. He found it a lot easier now that the cat was with him. Odd, that.
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Well that's the end of chapter 2. I know I said to some reviewers that I wouldn't update for a few days and then updated on the same day I said that. Sorry. I hope you liked the chapter enough to forgive me.