A.N.- Hello everyone! I hope you're all having a wonderful summer! While it is beginning to get hotter and hotter by the day I am finding more reasons to eat a freez-e pop so I'm great! heehee I love those little ice pops, orange ones are the best aren't they?
Anyway, I got a few messages from some of my readers (a special thanks to those wonderful souls who know who they are and why they're wonderful!) asking for me to hurry it up on the next chapter for this story lol thanks to you guys who did that I did indeed get my buttum in gear and finish this pretty fast. XD So if you guys enjoy this chapter thank those beautiful people who encouraged me.
Speaking of encouragement, all of your great reviews and wonderful comments make my day every time I get a new one! So please keep it up! :D Thank you so much to all of you who leave reviews and tell me how you like my story! It keeps me writing and makes me feel more energized than even a delicious Kaos Monster can do. Mmmm I just made myself want a Monster XD moving on...
In this next chapter, of course we still see a little Ukon because he's going to be her buddy a little longer (I can't help it I find the guy adorable) but you'll also get a good dose of Neji, for those of you who love the stoic long haired Hyuga boy. I had a fun time writing him and now that I've officially brought him into this story with more than a brief introduction and description I'm looking forward to including him more. (I know this is a SakuGaa fic but one of the main points of this story is Sakura's bond she has with each boy in the house).
THIS PART MAY BE IMPORTANT FOR SOME OF YOU.
Just to cover all of my bases, I feel I must say this. This chapter took a slightly dark turn halfway through, but I knew it was coming :P and so I'm preparing you guys too. Don't get too upset about it, even though it can be a touchy subject. Each boy in this second chance house is there for a reason and let's face it, guys, happy reasons don't put you in a last chance kind of place. So bear with me, and even if it sounds a little far fetched because I haven't covered all the "red tape" issues yet doesn't mean I won't, it takes time. Nobody just blurts every detail out right at once. XD While Sakura rambles and tells alot about herself, even she has some things she holds a little closer to her vest than others. So just keep reading the story and I promise everything will eventually get its proper rightful answer, alright?
And for those of you who are generally open minded and don't care XD thank you. lol You are a blessing to the world.
Now, on with the story! Thanks for reading! Please review and tell me what you think! Hope you enjoy! :)
Love, FanggirlX
Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine. Some parts of this are mine...like the story line and some characters and whatnot but for the general owning of the Naruto-ness...nope nuh-uh nada not mine.
Sakura hummed as she flipped the burgers she was cooking for dinner.
Tai sat at the table next to Naruto as they puzzled over a particularly difficult math problem together.
As had been the norm throughout the day, Ukon stood at her side holding her shirt as he watched her work.
She grinned at him and asked if he knew how to cut cheese.
Ukon stared at her unblinkingly.
Naruto overheard and laughed from the table, "Sakura, everyone can cut the cheese."
Sakura stuck her tongue out at him and he reigned in his laughter and said, "No, but really, Ukon there doesn't do much of anything. He's, uh…different. Sakon usually does pretty much everything for him. No way could he…" the blonde sniggered, "cut cheese for ya."
Ukon's hands trembled.
She spun around and glared at Naruto.
"Ukon just so happens to have been helping me all day, smarty pants. He can do a lot of things."
She turned back to the boy and asked quietly, "Do you want to let go of me and learn how or should we save it for another day?"
Ukon met her eyes and his lip trembled, "I have a choice? You won't make me?"
"Of course you have a choice, silly. If you want to stand there and just keep me company that's fine too."
Ukon mumbled his thanks and ducked his head as he inched closer to her.
Sakura wrapped an arm around his shoulders, "So is that a 'just keep me company'?"
The boy nodded but didn't meet her eyes.
Sakura gently took his chin and lifted his face up so he had to meet her gaze.
"Ukon, I won't get mad whatever you choose. I just want you to feel safe while you are without Sakon. So if you've made your decision that's fine. Just please stand up proudly for it. You made it. All by yourself you made the decision. Claim it. No matter what, always claim it. It helps a lot in the long run because when you stand by your choices people will not doubt your decision as much later on."
"They won't?"
"Nope. They won't have much choice."
"I want to stay here then." he mumbled.
Sakura tapped his nose and said "I'm sorry; what was that, Ukon, I couldn't quite hear you over the sizzle of this burger."
He smiled shyly, "I want to stand here with you."
"Good job!" she patted his shoulder and then turned to tend to the cooking burger.
Sakura pondered a moment how she could do this…how could she slice cheese and keep the burger from burning?
Neji walked by to grab a soda can from the fridge and she called to him.
"Um, excuse me? You're Neji right?"
He slowly turned and nodded, staring at her intently with his Hinata colored eyes.
It really is weird to see them on someone else, Sakura mused.
"Would you mind giving me a hand a moment? Naruto and Tai are just begging for a reason to quit their homework and they need to finish before dinner. So would you mind helping me for a bit? Please?"
He studied her for a long moment and then with a deep quiet voice asked, "What do you need?"
Naruto watched out the corner of his eye as Neji, the boy who usually wouldn't do much of anything for anyone, stepped up to help Sakura.
She flashed the long haired boy a bright smile and thanked him before explaining that she needed him to get the cheese out and cut slices for the burgers.
He nodded and did as told.
Neji took the block of cheddar out and carefully sliced the cheese into thin perfectly even strips that could easily melt on top of the burgers.
Sakura gasped and Neji flinched.
"Neji, oh my gosh!" she exclaimed; he withdrew slightly and ducked his head waiting for the rest of the insult, "You cut so magnificently! It's perfect! Have you cooked before? It's like you're a pro chef or something! Look at this! They're identical and beautiful!"
Shocked she gave him praise the quiet boy blushed and shook his head no, he was no chef or anything. He liked knives though….should he tell her that?
Nah, probably not. It'd just scare her.
Naruto chuckled, "Well, he doesn't cook but he handles a knife pretty good. He can throw them and hit his target from really far away! Like fourteen feet I think is his record right now! But he's getting better! It's so cool! He collects them too! It took him forever to talk Granny into it and she still keeps them in her office cause once he was caught trying to kill himself with-"
A knife slammed into the table an inch from where Naruto's arm lay. The blonde yelped and snatched his arm to his chest staring at Neji with wide blue eyes.
Neji glared hard at him.
"That is none of her or your concern." he turned to leave when Sakura gently grabbed his arm.
"Neji, wait. It's ok. He just talks a lot. I'm sure you're used to that by now. You live with the guy for crying out loud." Sakura said with a smile, trying to get him to stay with them.
He whirled around, snatching his arm from her grip.
"Why don't you quit this act now? Haven't you bought over enough saps to survive? We don't all want your sympathy! So fuck off from me!"
Sakura glared at him and then did something none of the people watching expected, she stepped forward and slapped Neji's face.
"They are not saps! And I'm not buying over anyone! I'm making friends like I'd like to do with you! And I don't offer sympathy! How would that help anyone here?"
He glared ice shards at her as he turned on his heel and stalked out.
Sakura cursed angrily and turned back to her now burnt burger she'd been cooking.
As she frowned angrily at it, Ukon gently tugged her sleeve, "I-I'll eat that one, Sakura…"
"No, its fine, Ukon. I'll make better ones. Why don't we take you up to see Sakon and ask if he wants a burger or if he can even handle one at this point. Ok?"
He followed her out of the kitchen.
She paused and poked her head back in, "I know how many burgers I've cooked, boys. You two better not eat any while I'm gone. And at least try to get three problems done while I'm gone, ok?"
They sighed and nodded, looking miserably at their work.
She giggled, "Or do you two want to wait until after dinner so I can try to help you?"
Their heads shot up and they quickly nodded.
"Alright, after dinner then." She agreed with a grin.
Whooping happily, the two boys rose from their chairs and dashed outside to play basketball together until the food was all cooked.
Sakura hurried up the stairs with Ukon's hand in hers.
"Ukon, may I leave you with Sakon a while? I would like to go talk to Neji."
He nodded his understanding, "He is angry, isn't he?"
"Yeah, he is and I don't know if I did something wrong…so I want to go clear it up. I am always acting before I think." Sakura shook her head, upset with herself, "I have to quit doing that…"
Ukon smiled cheerfully, "Its ok. It usually ends good with you, right?"
She giggled, "Well, I'm not sure about that but let's hope it does this time."
She left him in the room sitting at Sakon's side and promised to return as quickly as possible.
Ukon told her Neji was on the second hallway in the fourth room.
She thanked him and hurried there.
She stopped in front of the door she needed and knocked softly.
"Neji? Um, its Sakura…may I come in…please?"
There was a shuffle of things and then he opened the door and glared at her.
"Leave."
"Neji, please. I want to apologize. I…am not completely sure why you got so angry but I am sorry I slapped you." she blushed and shuffled her feet, "You see I am still working on my temper and it gets away from me alot….."
He stared at her in silence too long for Sakura's comfort, she got nervous and started saying everything she thought, "Look, I'm sorry it got so out of hand downstairs; it's just you insulted the guys and me by saying it was all fake and I just lost my cool and I'm still sorry…I want to understand what all happened…it went by so fast…and I just don't want to leave things on a bad note between us. Because, regardless of what you think, this isn't an act and it's not pity or sympathy I think is what you called it…um really, I just wanna make friends while I'm here…granted it is a probation job so I can see why you think I don't wanna be here but in all honesty I don't have anywhere better be…I lost the only thing that really mattered in my life and that was my music and my friends at my school but that doesn't mean new stuff can't mean something to me. The guys I'm friends with mean a lot to me already and the guys I haven't gotten to know yet, I really like, they all seem nice enough I want a chance to get to know them better…like you…but you keep staring at me with those Hinata eyes and I'm beginning to think I imagined the whole thing downstairs and that you don't even speak English!" taking a deep breath she asked, "You do speak English, right, Neji? I didn't imagine that whole fight, did I? I mean…the stovetop was pretty hot where I was cooking but I've never heard of heatstroke making people hallucinate fights with people…"
Neji stared at her, while outwardly his face showed little change, inside he was deeply perplexed. She rambled a lot…probably a sign of her nerves acting up. Was she really this nervous? She could face down the infamous redhead, Gaara, but against him she was like this? Neji wasn't sure if he should be flattered or insulted.
He studied her closely and then huffed and stepped aside.
"You can have five minutes." he muttered. He may as well just let her in or she'd stay in his doorway rambling on and on about nonsense like she was. Hell, he hadn't even caught half of what she'd just said…she talked pretty fast.
"Thank you, Neji!" she skipped inside and silently asked with a hand gesture if she could sit in the chair at his desk.
He shrugged and sat on his bed facing her, back rod straight, face blank.
"So?" he grumbled angrily, there was a light dusting of red in his cheeks though and Sakura noticed it.
"Well, I wanted to say I'm sorry I hit you but I really also wanted to talk to you a minute."
He nodded, silently allowing her to continue.
Sakura fiddled with her fingers, "I…I'm not acting, Neji. I want you to know that. You're not the first to accuse me of that and to be honest I'm not sure why you guys all think that but I'm not. This is me. I am crazy and violent and maybe even a little random sometimes but a liar and a fake I am not. Besides, I'm not in the acting section at my school. I can't act my way out of a paper bag. My friend TenTen though, well, she's amazing. If I was her I could say you had reason to wonder if it was real. But I swear to you, with me, what you see, in most cases, is what you get."
"Most cases." He repeated.
She blushed, "Yeah, sometimes I feel sad or a little down and I tend to keep that to myself…that's the most acting I can do."
He shrugged, "Fine. Sorry. Will you leave now?"
She sighed and whispered her true reason for wanting to talk with him, "Why did you try to kill yourself?"
He went rigid. He'd known it was coming. People always ask, as soon as they learn of it, always.
She stammered on, "You don't have to tell me. I totally understand it if you don't. I just…I've never met anyone else who has tried."
His eyes widened a fraction and he stared at her.
"Else?"
A blush darkened further across her cheeks, "Yeah…else. I, um…right after my parents died…I hated that I'd lived. I was with them in that damned subway car I should have died too. But daddy…he saved me. Only so I could live alone. I had made it into my dream school but…it didn't matter. Nothing did. I was empty. And lonely. It was a rich school. I didn't fit in well with that type of people. I was miserable."
Her emerald eyes implored him to understand where she was coming from. She had a chance to hear if someone else felt like she had, and sometimes still did. To have another feel that low and lost as she had, she wanted…something from this boy though she didn't exactly know what.
She stared at him, watching, waiting.
Neji sat quietly waiting until it was evident she wouldn't go further without some signal from him.
"And?" he asked.
Blushing again she bowed her head and played with the edge of her shirt in her lap, "One night I decided it wasn't fair that they got to quit and I didn't. It wasn't fair that I had to keep struggling without them or without anybody for that matter. It wasn't fair that they were together and I was all alone with not even a single friend to talk to. So I would go to them…I hadn't known much about suicide. Until then, I'd had an almost self righteous view on the notion. I'd said it was a coward's way out to just ditch and run and that people who would rather quit then keep trying weren't necessary anyway."
Sakura looked up, tears in her eyes; she was crying silently, "But…then…then I understood. That accident changed me, it changed everything about me. I understood then that it actually takes a lot of guts to take your own life. It's harder than people believe…to accept your mortality and take it in your own hands…"
Her watery emerald eyes met Neji's lavender ones.
She pulled up the thin sleeves of her shirt and turned over her wrists.
On each arm, from each of her wrists to halfway down her forearms, was a single thin deep scar.
"It wasn't going fast enough though…" she muttered. "So I tried something else."
Slowly she pulled her shirt collar down and paused to glare at him, "This isn't a peep show though, got it? If you see anything, forget that you did."
Stunned, he simply nodded.
Sakura pulled it down the rest of the way, stretching the shirt neck slightly.
There just above the rise of her left breast was a short jagged broad scar.
"I stabbed a knife into me there. But I missed my heart. I say luckily now, but, then when I'd realized I had a knife in my chest and that I wasn't dead, that I'd done it wrong, I cried. I couldn't do anything right. I couldn't die right the first time. I couldn't live right afterwards. And then I couldn't even kill myself right."
Tears slid down her face as she let go of her shirt collar and it slowly returned to its place.
"But then as my vision got hazy I saw a picture of my parents laughing and smiling sitting on the table in the tiny hall by the kitchen door. And I remembered the night it had been taken. It had been about two months before they'd died. It had been taken the night I'd told them I wanted to try and be a singer. I told them about this academy that turned out the best of the best singers. I told them I'd actually auditioned at that academy that day and the judges had told me that I had great potential and that they'd be in touch. They were thrilled for me."
Sakura sniffled, swiping at her tears, "My mother…she cried she was so happy, she said it was good that I knew my dream and a way to reach it. She held my face and whispered that I could do anything I wanted. She told me it would still be hard even now that I knew what I wanted. But…but if I kept pushing and kept trying I would make it. And daddy said he was proud of me for putting myself out there like I had. And then my mom…she asked me if I knew for certain that this was what I really wanted because the school was expensive even with a scholarship uniforms and books and lessons were really pricey things. She just wanted to know I was serious before she put a lot of money into it. I was positive. I'd never wanted anything else more than I wanted that. Mama warned me it'd be a long hard road, but she made me promise to never give up on my dream; to see it through until I was able to stand on a stage in front of thousands of adoring fans cheering for me to sing and that when I did sing, to sing my heart out."
Sakura's sad watery smile faded a little and she fought against her tears, "So that I could tell her what it felt like to be that cherished by so many people. I promised her. And she and daddy were proud of me. And as I sat there in the floor waiting to bleed out, I realized, I was breaking my last important promise to my mother. The woman who'd birthed me. I was going to let her down. She and daddy…they'd died shielding my body in that damn wreck. So I could live. So I could go on and live my dreams and have a family of my own and experience life like they'd been able to."
Sakura coughed and hugged her arms, "So no matter what, no matter if I was sad or lonely, I had to live and I had to keep going so I could keep my promise, so that they hadn't died for nothing. I got up and called the ambulance and even though I was fuzzy headed I got a few wash cloths and tied my arms to stop the bleeding and I did that thing they do in movies where I put pressure on my chest wound." she grimaced at the memory, "But I wasn't brave enough to pull the knife out now that I wanted to live….the emergency guys had to..."
Sakura shrugged the rest of her story away and shook her head to clear the images of that night, "I'm just telling you all that because…well, I know what it feels like to want to quit living. And even though I know it takes a lot of courage to take your life it takes even more to keep living it. While it's tough to do…in the end, death is easy. It's a cop out compared to the hell here on Earth sometimes. But you are still alive and I just wanted to let you know I didn't judge you because you'd tried to kill yourself. It wasn't Naruto's place to say, but if you were worried what I'd think I…" she shrugged again, "…you know, just thought you'd like to know I understood."
Neji stared at her silently.
Sakura waited…for what she didn't know. She'd been hopeful Neji would understand how she'd felt and maybe say something on it all, because the truth of the matter was…sometimes late at night when she had trouble sleeping…she thought about trying again because she felt that…lonely. Logically, she knew she had friends and that they cared about her…but…it was just hard to deal with alone. Sometimes she mentally begged her parents for a sign that it was okay to just quit her dreams and just give up on life altogether. Then Naruto had said Neji had tried to die. She'd never had a chance to talk to someone else who'd been through an experience like that, and she'd really wanted to hear his version…maybe she wasn't so crazy like she felt she was, like they'd told her she was, if someone else felt it too?
But, judging from his continued silence, Neji didn't want to talk to her, and she had probably worn out her welcome.
Sakura let out a long breath and stood, "Well, I'm pretty sure my five minutes are up."
She walked to his door and turned back to smile at him, "You seem like a nice guy. I'm glad you lived too." Sakura shrugged, "Even if it wasn't your choice. You're still alive and that's saying a lot."
Sticking her tongue out at him she added, "And for the record, I'm not telling you this because I'm acting or trying to win you over to some imaginary roster to help me make it here. I can make it just fine doing work here without friends…I just like having them. I just…thought you were like me and could use a friend who'd been there. I'd been hoping you could be someone I talked to about it…I can't with most people, they just think I'm crazy."
Her smile was sad, he noticed. She genuinely wanted what she claimed to want. Despite probably having several friends outside of this house and already a handful inside the house, she'd wanted to be his friend because he'd experienced something she had that few others ever do. They shared something rare, not necessarily a good thing to share but nonetheless it made Neji feel oddly pleased that she wanted his help and his opinion on the matter. She'd wanted to talk to him, asking him to tell her she wasn't crazy. Here was the girl who had been steadily helping the guys in the house, reassuring them of their doubts and insecurities, and low and behold…Miss Sunshine had fears and doubts of her own.
How intriguing.
She opened the door and his soft choked voice asked, "Do you still need my help cooking?"
Sakura turned and smiled happily, "Yeah! Of course!"
Neji nodded and stood, walking towards her.
"My story…" he mumbled, he looked pained at the mere thought of it.
Sakura raised her hand, "You don't have to tell me, Neji. You aren't obligated to just because I told you about mine. I was just…I dunno…talking I guess…" she smiled shyly, nervous once again.
Now he knew why. She was nervous because he was someone whose opinion mattered to her, because he'd gone through something similar as her.
Sakura smiled at Neji, she'd wanted to know his story and his thoughts on it all, but with the promise it may one day come, she could wait. He didn't have to relive it right now just for her own selfish insecurities.
His hand grabbed hers and he met her eyes with a fierce gaze, "I wanted to escape my uncle the first time…his memory the second. He made me feel worthless. I used to apologize for everything. Now…I don't apologize for anything. Why be sorry? No one else is." he tilted his head a little to the side. "Except you. You readily apologize. And seem to mean every word you say. So…earlier. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have judged you in fear of being judged myself."
Sakura's eyes watered up again. He'd told her.
She flung her arms around Neji and hugged him tightly, "Thank you, Neji. Thank you very, very much. For everything. Your story. Your apology. It was wonderful. Not your story per say, no that was sad, but that you'd tell me it. That's the wonderful part."
He stiffly patted her shoulder. "You…are welcome."
She stepped away from him and beamed brightly.
"Now. Let's go get Ukon and finish that meal? I bet the boys outside are starving!"
As they headed down the stairs she turned to him. "So you're a master with knives, huh?"
He shrugged, "It's a hobby."
"Great, so you can cut cheese and maybe even some potatoes for fries."
Sakura paused and then a goofy grin spread on her face as she thought of Naruto earlier in the kitchen. "Heh, I said cut the cheese again!"
She burst into a fit of giggles and the stoic boy beside her couldn't help the tiny smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth.
Sakura smiled at Neji once again as she set the burgers on the table, then turned to Ukon who waited at her side, holding her shirt until her hands were free again.
"I think I'm all done now. Want to hold my hand?"
Ukon smiled gratefully and with a fast nod reclaimed her hand.
Neji, who'd silently been observing them, asked quietly, "Why is he with you? Should he not be with his brother?"
Ukon looked shameful and cowered behind her.
Sakura shook her head, patting Ukon soothingly, "Nope, he's going to be with me for a while. Sakon has the stomach flu and until he is better Ukon stays with me so he doesn't get sick as well."
A dark slender eyebrow rose in question, "And tonight? How will he sleep without you or his brother?"
Sakura blushed and coughed nervously, "Well, I um…I am sleeping with him…tonight and however long it takes for Sakon to get better..."
Now both eyebrows were raised high in shock.
Naruto laughed behind her from where he and Tai were just coming back inside, "I…can't sleep without somebody either." he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, "I need to sleep with you too." His boyish grin made her blush intensify tenfold.
Tai chuckled and shoved him out of the way, "No how, bozo. She wouldn't do that with you."
Naruto shrugged mischievously, "But she did it with you, Tai."
Tai blushed and ducked his head, now embarrassed himself.
Neji studied her and saw that her face was even redder than Tai's as she tried to explain the earlier events of which Naruto alluded to. "He…he was tired…it wasn't anything indecent or anything….I would do it for any one of my friends."
Tai gasped. "I'm…your.."
Sakura nodded, "Yeah, of course you are, dummy, what'd you think you were?"
He shrugged.
"Sakura wants t-to b-be friends w-with us all." Ukon stammered from behind her.
Neji nodded and met her gaze. "Four is not a bad start then."
Sakura recounted and tilted her head, "You think I only have you four guys? But what about Sakon and Gaara? And Jax and Fluffy and Marshmallow and Mix and-"
"They can count if you want. But we're keeping our own tally. It's different." Naruto interrupted with a shrug as he hungrily eyed the burgers and fries sitting in the center of the table.
Sakura giggled and ruffled his hair before patting Tai's cheek. "You two go wash up and call everyone down for dinner on your way, alright?"
Naruto glanced at Sakura and then to Tai and his eyes held a secret message.
Tai laughed and shook his head before they hurried out so they could return to the food quickly.
Sakura turned to Neji, pointing a thumb over her shoulder indicating the boys who'd just left, "What was that exactly?"
Neji shrugged, "He says you're a mother. He never had one to base anything off of. He was left on the orphanage steps as an infant. He's going on what movies and shows portray a mother to be like. And apparently you fit the bill."
Sakura looked saddened by this fact, even as a blush came to her cheeks once more, "He never had anyone, really?"
Neji shrugged again as he moved to get his drink and sit at his seat which was surprisingly closer to where hers would be than she'd expected.
"Really. This place is home for all of us. We either never had a home, lost it really early on, or the home we came from sucked more ass than imaginable." Neji's quiet voice responded.
Sakura stared at the floor, remembering how everyone had sat so far away for breakfast that morning. "Then why don't you guys treat each other as family?"
Kankuro laughed overhearing their conversation as he came in, "Us? One big happy family? Oh, please. My own brother lives here and he barely talks to me and I barely talk to him. Why would I make other people my family when I can't even handle the family I have?"
Sakura smiled at him and shrugged, "Why not? It couldn't hurt, could it?"
Sai leaned on his arm that now suddenly rested on top of her head, "That really depends, Miss Weird, on who you allow into your family."
Sakura grinned up at the expressionless boy, "You like sneaking up on me don't you."
"Not sneaking."
"Yeah, yeah. I know. I'm just unobservant." she giggled.
Then her eyes brightened. "You know what! I'm making all of you a part of my family."
Kankuro snorted mockingly, "Sure, good luck with that."
Sakura put her free hand on her hips, "I will show you, Mister Doubty Mootafah. We can be a family." she said sticking her tongue out at Kankuro who chuckled and shook his head disbelievingly.
Ukon gripped her hand tightly, "Even me?"
"Yes, you are in my family, Ukon. And so is Sakon. And so is everyone here in this house."
Kankuro looked her up and down skeptically, "Even Gaara?"
Sakura nodded, "Yes, of course, Gaara is in my family."
Said red haired boy was walking in through the door when she declared this.
Freezing momentarily, he felt a warm tickle inside his chest and he turned on his heel and left back through the doorway and on up to his room.
Why did that girl feel the need to involve him in everything? It wasn't like he wanted to be a part of her 'family'. He really just wanted to be left alone; couldn't she do that for him? Just leave him alone?
Sighing, he sat on his bed and gazed out at the slowly darkening sky.
He turned on his music and sat back comfortably to watch the stars appear.
His mind repeated her words over and over again.
Of course he was in her family she'd said.
Of course.
Like it was the most natural thing.
Of course. He scoffed and closed his eyes losing himself in the chorus that blared from his speakers.
His eyes opened and he saw a star flicker into view.
Of course he was a part of her 'family'.
Gaara felt a warmth settle deep in his chest.
Of course…
His cold jade eyes softening bit by bit as he remembered the sweet sincerity of her voice when she'd made him a part of a family.
A.N.- Sorry to add this here but I just wanted to add a tiny piece here at the bottom. It has nothing to do with HO2C, and that's why I apologize for putting this XD just not sorry enough to not do it lol.
Anyway, if any of you read my Licorice Trails: Winds of Change story about Sakura and Gaara and liked the general story of two people destined for each other despite their circumstances, I thought you'd like to know my second installment in that series should also be posted tonight or in the morning (as soon as I come up with a title for the blasted thing...XD you'd be surprised how long a story will sit completed on my computer waiting to be posted simply because it has no real title lol and how often it happens)
No, this story is not about Sakura and Gaara, while someone made a great point on how I could elaborate upon that story and draw it out further (and I very well may one day) currently I'm working on the other couples that I adore and personally ship that are bound by Fate's red string. (Mmm licorice...)
The story is actually a yaoi fic about Sasuke and Naruto. So please look for it if you enjoy reading that couple, it will be my first ever story for that particular pairing and I'd love for it to be received well. Sadly, as I said, I haven't named it yet but I can say it definitely will be titled Licorice Trails:_-insert title in blank -_-;
Please and thank you for your support guys! It means the world to me!
Love, FanggirlX
