"Why did it feel so real?" Aki asked to herself in the dark feeling her back where Gaara had supposedly stabbed her. "At least this wasn't real life."
Aki gets out of bed and gets dressed so she could clear her mind by walking at night.
When she's all dressed she pokes her head through her bedroom door to see if the coast was clear. "Ok looks like its safe to leave tonight." She tiptoes down the stairs to the front door.
As soon as she's to the door thinking that she's home free she hears a voice say, "Where do you think that you're going Aki?"
Aki flinches as she hears her father. "Hi daddy dearest, I couldn't sleep so I thought that I would go for a walk," Aki stated with an innocent smile. "Can I dad?"
"I'm not too sure that's a good idea Aki-Pie..." her father reinforce with a menacing smirk, sending violent shivers down Aki's spine.
"Daddy it's just a little walk, it won't kill me," Aki retorted. "I'm still going I'll be back before 1 in the morning promise this time. I have a key so lock the door please," saying that she left her father dumbfounded.
'Damn father,' Aki thought to herself. 'You only act like one when you find it convenient to you and mother. And that's when you guys are going to beat me...' As she opened the gates to her house she found Gaara standing there. 'What's Gaara doing here?' she questioned herself as if she knew that answer. "Gaara? What... I mean why are you here?" Aki finally found the voice to ask him.
"I'm here to see how you were," Gaara said simply. "And what was with the jackass? He have an issue with you or what?" he said through gritted teeth.
Aki looked away and walked towards the park. "I'll explain in the park, because if my family hear me talk badly about them then ... Let's just say that I won't be in school for a week." she said with a glum expression but with a cheery voice to hide the fact that she would be beaten.
'I think that she's beaten at home Gaara boy,' said Shukaku. 'She sure looks like it, look at her arms and legs.' Gaara did as he was requested.
'Oh my god, you're right,' Gaara thought back. "Hey Aki? Do you mind if I ask why you have bruises on you arms and legs?" Gaara asked without thinking.
Aki flinches at his question. "I fell," she lies simply. "I fell earlier today."
Gaara stops and says, "I don't believe you one bit." Gaara grabs Aki's arm and pulls her close to observe that she was crying. Gaara wide eyed and worried asked, "What's wrong? Did I hurt you?"
Aki shook her head "no" and hugged him tight. "No you didn't, it's my crazy family. They only want me so they can say beat me when they're drunk and shit," she sobbed into his chest.
Gaara stood there unsure of what to do. 'Put your arms around her dumb-nut!' Shukaku hissed. Gaara gently placed his hands around Aki's waist. "Let's go to my house, so we can talk," Gaara finally spoke.
Aki nodded and then collapsed in Gaara's arms, from the pain. 'Damn I thought that I could hide that I was exhausted. Guess I can't do that around Gaara because he makes my knees weak,' Aki thought as her mind went black.
.: 3 hours later at 2 in the morning :.
"Gaara you idiot! What if her family thinks that you're trying to kill her!" a furious female voice screamed.
"So you expected me to leave her there on the ground unattended, Temari? You would rather her be there till who knows when, when she's in that condition?!" Gaara retorted. 'Gaara chill out you have to calm down now or Shukaku will take over your body,' Gaara said to himself.
"Gaara come on you have to face the facts, we can't always save every 'damsel in distress'," said another male voice.
"Shut up Kankuro!" Gaara snapped. "I know what I'm doing!"
Aki sat up she had heard enough. "Thank you for watching me till I had awoken," she said walking towards the door. "Now if you'll excuse me then I'll go ahead and get out of your hair."
Gaara grabbed her arm and wouldn't let go no matter how hard Aki tried to free herself. "Gaara let go of me," she said pulling on her arm. "Gaara I need to go home before my parents notice that I'm not there by one. Please," Aki pleaded.
Gaara just stared at her in disbelief asking, "Why do you think that I'll let you go home so you can get beaten to a pulp?"
"Gaara let her-" Temari started.
"SHUT UP TEMARI! You're not apart of this right now!" Gaara snapped. "Aki I'm going to protect you from everything! That's a promise!"
