Yo, peoples! :D
Yes, yes, I'm well aware of the fact that I haven't uploaded for AGES and you all probably think I'm dead. I know, I know. And I'm very, very sorry.
Allow me to explain? Or do you even care?
Well, as always, rping has got me addicted. I'm working on a MASSIVE rp in gaiaonline, so if you guys want to friend me and take part in it when it finally opens, my username is LovetoCauseMayhem. I hope to hear from you all. :D
And school has just been hectic. Between my Honors classes and Gaia and the theater I don't have the ability to get myself off my butt (or on. O.o) and post something for you guys. I really am a bad authoress. :hits self:
So, I am directing a play for the school I'm in – a piece that I wrote that I am very happy with. There are three student directors, and I am the only Junior. The other two are Seniors. I also have more people in my cast then they do, and a more complex set with more light cues. Opening night is January 29th, and I am so effing excited! XD
Yes, life is a little busy, but I feel I owe it to you guys to at least wish you all a belated Thanksgiving, and a Merry Christmas. :) My apologies – again – for neglecting all of you. Please know that, though I'm not here nearly as often as you'd like me to be or as often as I should be, I really appreciate all of you for keeping faith and checking your emails every day. Thank you so much.
Oh, and by the way, in case you all haven't realized it yet, I'M NOT DEAD!!!!!! XD
Well, that's it in a nutshell. I hope you all like this final chapter. :)
Crumbling Dreams
Final Chapter – Running Dreams
"I… tried to love you, Gaara…" she breathed, almost dead. "I tried to love you, but I couldn't."
Gaara was crying. Tears were streaming down his face. They were alone. They were alone in the stillness of the night.
"Don't worry…" he breathed to her. "Don't worry… we'll get some medicine! You'll be better!" He struggled to be quiet. "I'm sorry… so sorry…"
The woman continued on as if she hadn't heard him, staring up at the sky with blood dribbling from her lips.
"I tried to love you…" she repeated softly. "But I couldn't. You took my sister away. You killed her. So I guess…" her eyes widened slightly in realization. "I guess I always hated you."
Gaara's eyes widened in shock, but before he could explode, another voice and presence appeared.
"Don't worry, Auntie Yashamaru!"
Sazzuke was there, standing near the door leading to the roof. His young eyes set determinedly on Gaara and Yashamaru. Gaara's eyes widened once more.
"Sazzu-chan…"
The younger boy made his way forward, his stride confident. He had grown much, in these past few months.
"You don't have to worry, Auntie Yashamaru," he stated again, gazing down at her. "Don't worry! You might not be able to love Gaara…" his eyes narrowed. "But I can! I can love him a lot more than you think! I can love him enough for both of us!" Then his voice softened as he gazed down at his caretaker of five years. "So don't worry about anything at all. I'll take care of Gaara." He nodded slightly to her. "Promise."
Yashamaru gazed up at him, her eyes clouding over with death, but then she smiled crookedly at him.
"I'm sorry… Sazzuke…" she breathed.
Raising her hand, she suddenly tore her vest open, revealing dozens upon dozens of paper bombs.
Sazzuke let out a yell as Gaara leaned sideways and grabbed him, his sand leaping to the defense.
"AUNTIE YASHAMARU!"
The resulting explosion ripped through the air, deafening even through the shield of sand that surrounded the two boys.
Gaara was still crying.
"Why did she do it?" He sniffled as the smoke cleared with the wind and the sand withdrew, revealing the moonlight. "Why did she want to kill me?"
Sazzuke gazed down at him with sorrowful eyes, kneeling next to the crying boy.
"It's because she couldn't love you, I think," he replied after a long, thoughtful moment. "She couldn't find it in her heart to forgive you, so she got mad. I don't think she was mad at you though. I think she was mad at herself more than she was at you. Because she couldn't love you." He smiled at Gaara, taking the other's face in his hands. "But you shouldn't worry at all! Because I'll take over for her! I'll love you enough for two people, so you don't have to worry anymore!" He grinned at his older brother. "I promised, after all."
Gaara gazed up at him at wide eyes.
"Why…?" He breathed. "Why would you do that?"
Sazzuke blinked at him before scoffing.
"Well, DUH! Silly Gaara-nii-san!" He flicked Gaara softly on the forehead. "Because I love you!" Sazzuke smiled at him. "I'll never leave your side, big brother."
It was then Gaara realized that he wasn't crying anymore.
-------------------- ------------------------ ------------------- ----------------
"Gaara-nii…"
"Gaara-nii…"
"Gah – GAARA-NII!"
Gaara jolted awake, looking around groggily.
"Wha-what?"
That same dream again…
A seven-year-old Sazzuke was there, gazing down at him in annoyance.
"You fell asleep on the bench AGAIN, nii-san."
Gaara realized the other was right and slowly straightened into a sitting position, blushing softly.
"Ah, sorry Sazzu-chan…" he replied, looking up at the other. "What is it?"
Sazzuke blinked for a moment – he had forgotten – but then he grinned in excitement and wrapped Gaara's neck in a hug.
"Father said I could go!" He exclaimed. "He said I could go!"
Gaara blinked, confused.
"Go where, Sazzu?"
Sazzuke pulled away, bouncing from foot to foot excitedly.
"To the academy!" He exclaimed, nearly yelling. "He said I could go to the academy with you and Nee-san and Big nii-san! I'm enrolling with you next year!"
Gaara was off the bench and wrapping his little brother in a hug in an instant.
"That's great, Sazzu-chan!" He exclaimed. "That's just great! I'm so happy for you!"
Sazzuke grinned at him, returning the hug fiercely.
"I'm so happy!" He cried. "I'm so happy!" Then he pulled away and smiled confidently at Gaara. "See? I told you I'd never leave your side, nii-san."
Gaara smiled back.
"Yep!" He said, cheeks stained red in pleasure. "I know!"
Sazzuke grinned, leaping up into the air.
"WOOHOO!" He grabbed Gaara's hand and began running, sprinting through the streets of the golden sand village. "TO THE ACADEMY!"
Gaara grinned and began to run with his brother.
No… He thought joyously as he ran, his heart singing. To the future.
He never stopped smiling.
End Final Chapter – Running Dreams
So there is the final chapter. I sincerely hope you aren't all mad and out for my blood right now, but real life – and gaia, sadly enough, -.- – seem to take precedence in my mind.
Dammit.
And I also have a myspace now. (.com/xkissofshadowsx) Look me up and send me an add, if you like. :3
So, thank you all for reading and – though I probably don't deserve it – reviewing. I love you all so much.
I'm going to go tackle my inbox now.
With so much love, ja ne!
DDB: Alive and Well.
For those who still care.
