Chapter 6:
My mother was serving Itachi and Sasuke when I entered the café. My mother was nibbling her lip, a sign that she was uncomfortable and wasn't happy. I gave a small wave and slipped up the stairs to visit Ishuzu before my mother could order me to do some work.
"Hey," she said weakly, and patted a spot on her bed for me to sit.
"How're you feeling?" I asked.
"Like crap, but that's to be expected," she shrugged.
"What were you drinking?"
"Mad dog."
"Oh God, Shuzu!" I exclaimed laughing, "Let me put on some tea."
"Thanks… Itachi brought me some crackers." She told me, holding out a box of Saltines.
"He's a good fiancée," I commented.
"He has his moments." She chuckled.
"Don't they all?" I teased and her smile broadened.
It was good to know my sister was still her self, even in the midst of the worst hangover in her life. I put the kettle on and went into her room again, this time sitting behind her and holding her hair as she threw up. I looked at her and suddenly felt envious.
She had long, dark, chocolate brown hair that had a red tinge to it, unlike my own. Her fingers were long and dexterous, as were her legs long and slim. She had a sleek build, not trashy, but not anorexic either. What was my sister? Was she perfect?
It would seem… She always had the better grades, boys, friends; she even had a better time at parties than me. I wanted to see what made her that way, so damn perfect.
'No one's perfect.' Honoske stated.
'Well she is really damn close.' I answered sharply.
'That's the jealousy talking.' He said.
I ignored him and looked at the ring twinkling on my sister's left hand. 'How could one ring symbolize so much?' I thought bitterly.
She stopped throwing up and I handed her a damp washcloth to rinse her face with. Ishuzu flashed me a grateful smile and I turned to get the tea ready because the kettle was whistling. I brought it in and then swiveled to make a run for my room.
"Hold still for a second, will ya?" she ordered playfully, "I've only seen you in the dark!"
Ishuzu, with much effort, grabbed my shoulders and faced me in the direction of her open window. The sunlight spilled over my body and she grinned as she studied me. I looked at the ground as she managed to finger a lock of my hair.
"My, you've gotten so… tall!" she cried happily.
Another imperfect feature.
"Oh, I missed you so much!" she exclaimed.
Ishuzu threw her arms around me and squeezed me tightly. I stood there limp, when was the last time she had even touched me? The day before she left.
"So… any boyfriends?" she asked eagerly, I knew she'd been itching to ask me that all morning.
My mind flashed back to Shikamaru and I told her.
"HA!" she laughed, "I remember him! You dumped sand down his pants when he made fun of your castle."
I scarcely recalled this.
"You were three, so was he, and after that he was scared of you until he turned six!" she laughed.
I had been thirteen when she'd left… when I needed her the most. She'd been eighteen, and no less enthusiastic as she was now at age twenty-one. I was now sixteen and had only been kissed once- by Neji- at Ino's birthday party because we were playing spin the bottle. He didn't kiss very well, a definite reason as to his single status. It didn't really bother me that no one had asked me out.
"So, how's the café?" she asked on a more serious note.
"Business is growing," I answered.
I could see it in her eyes that she wanted to ask me something, but she couldn't.
"Shuzu, what? You want to ask something, so what is it?" I asked irritated.
"Who was that red-haired boy?" she asked.
"Gaara."
"Oh… at first I thought that mom adopted him or something."
"Nope," I shrugged, "though it's possible, his mother is dead."
"How horrible!"
"He's sixteen…"
"Just like you!" she said slyly, I could see a plan forming in her mind.
"I want no part in any scheme of yours!" I stated crossing my arms.
"Oh c'mon!" she protested, "It's perfect! He's got red-hair and a dead mother, we have a dead father, this could all work out!"
'He's also got a demon,' Honoske thought smugly.
'Shut-up, she doesn't need to know that.' I replied.
0o0
Gaara was too far away from the café; the demon was taking over. He went into a side alley so as to not call attention to himself.
'This is how it's meant to be. Don't resist.' Shukaku told him darkly.
Gaara hurried in the direction of the café, where was she? Where was Kizumi? He needed her!
'Give up,' Shukaku said, 'I can hurt you if you wish for that to happen.'
Gaara keeled to the floor in another side alley, he clutched his arms and tried to focus on fighting the demon. He needed to stay himself; he didn't want to scare her away.
'I won't!' Gaara cried in his head, 'I won't!'
His cries grew weaker and weaker as it felt like he was being sucked inside himself.
'I won't…I won't.' he said wearily.
'You will, and you just did.' The demon snickered and took over.
When Gaara was sealed away in the gourd the demon shook his head. 'That girl… That girl is going to die a slow and painful death one day.' he thought agitated.
Shukaku flexed his human fingers and smiled as a black cat crossed his path.
"It's gonna be a wonderful day." he said in Gaara's voice, an evil grin plastered on his face as he walked out into the sunshine of another bright day.
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