Chained Heart Chapter 7
My stomach was swollen. I was very close to meeting my baby. I felt her kicking me playfully. I smiled and tried to reassure her she was alright and that I would protect her. Aiko-chan, my sweet angel, mommy can't wait to meet you.
My breasts grew considerably. They weren't tiny like before; they must have grown like two sizes, from B to a D cup.
Suddenly Gaara appeared in front of me in a swirl of sand. Fear crept into my being. I made a step back. I looked at him and he came closer, his expression unreadable. I felt a wall behind me stopping me from moving any further. He was right in front of me. He looked…curious at me stomach. I put my hands on my belly, as if protecting it. He reached to touch me and there was nothing I could do. He touched my belly. Aiko began kicking again. No baby, not now. She knew it was her father. Gaara looked me in the eyes and gave me the most sincere smile I have seen coming from him. He was…happy? I smiled and placed my hand on his and made him caress my stomach.
Gaara grabbed his head in pain and fell to the ground where he transformed in the beast that haunted him. Shukaku.
"Stay away!" I yelled.
"Remember." He ordered. "If I find out you are pregnant I pull that disgusting thing from inside you, kill it and fuck you next to it."
"Gaara, please fight him. You don't want to do this."
"Gaara is gone! No one is going to save you now bitch!"
"Gaara please! Snap out of it!"
He backhanded me and grabbed my legs pushing them apart. He took off my panties. I felt like he just split me in half and the next thing I knew…I was hearing the screams of my new born daughter. She was alive. He just ripped the umbilical cord, dropped her and lunged towards me. She was still alive.
I felt him entering me. I struggled against him. "Leave me alone, you beast!" I kicked him in the shoulders and tried to push him away and go and hold my daughter. Sand rose from the ground and held me down as he took advantage of me. He was thrusting at demonic speed. I was in immense pain after he just pulled my baby from my womb. With an animalistic scream he released inside me. He was not resisting anymore so I pushed him off me and ran towards my daughter and took her in my arms. I tried to wipe the blood from her face. Her skin was like porcelain, she had a little red hair. She was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. She cried in my chest and kept puckering her lips. She was hungry.
Just as I was about to nurture her, he ran in front of me and wanted to snatch her from my arms.
"NO! You sick bastard! You won't have her."
"Giver her to me, or I'll kill you too."
"I won't give her to you!"
He grabbed her so fast I didn't have time to react. He snapped her little fragile neck and shoved her back to me. "Here you go mommy." He began laughing maniacally and began turning to normal and collapsed.
I was too shocked, broken and incredibly heartbroken that I couldn't cry, speak, scream, move or walk. I just stood there with my baby in my arms, rocking her back and forth. I looked like a maniac.
I shot up from my bed. I woke up feeling uneasy and nauseous. I caressed my stomach. My baby…My angel…She was still alive. I will undoubtedly keep her safe. It was just a bad dream.
I was going to be released today. The exam was today also, at 10. I got up and looked for some clothes in the drawer. Temari must have left me something to wear. Indeed, she left me a frilly purple dress. I got out and checked out, then I headed towards the tower. The tree siblings were about to leave when I got home. I looked at Gaara who didn't even acknowledge me.
"Ai-chan, are you sure you want to come today? Knowing what is going to happen…don't you think it's best for you to stay here?"
"Why wouldn't she come? She has to watch me kill Uchiha."
"Gaara…don't kill Sasuke. He may be an arrogant prick, but he doesn't have to die."
"Shut up." He snapped. I looked down.
"Gaara…"
He leaned in closer. "You smell better than each passing day."
"Uh, thank you I guess."
"It makes me want to fuck you right now."
I felt the siblings freeze a little. I looked to the side and sighed. I was so embarrassed…
"Don't you think so?" He turned to his siblings.
"Y-Yeah, of course Gaara, she does." But I knew they didn't feel a thing.
"This is getting very awkward. Let's go."
We got to the arena. We were instructed to go to the center of the arena. Since I did not fight I stood at the entrance. There was Shikamaru, Neji and Shino, but Naruto and Sasuke were missing. Then out of nowhere Nauto flew right in the center, passing right beside me. He gave me a fright. Shikamaru picked him up. He was mumbling something about some bulls at the entrance of the arena, that a lot of them are going to come in but no one believed him. Gaara didn't even turn to look at him. The crowd began to cheer as the match was about to begin.
Something caught my eye. Up there, where the Hokage was, father made his appearance and sat on the chair beside him. I saw Gaara's gaze. He was looking at him, maybe thinking how he would kill him.
The Hokage began speaking. "Welcome all and our deepest thanks for coming here to the Village hidden in the Leaves for this year's chuunin selection. We have come to the final competition between the eight candidates who made it through the preliminaries. We ask that no one leaves until all the matches have been completed. Now everyone enjoy!" There goes the cheering again.
I walked over to Gaara. He was acting strange. He had a dangerous aura around him, more dangerous than usual…I stood beside him as the proctor explained the details. I was so clingy towards him…I wasn't supposed to come in the center but no one argued about it. Naruto and Neji were about to start their match. Me and the others went to the waiting area. I followed Gaara. When we reached the top I still remained beside him, observing him.
Neji and Naruto exchanged a few words before beginning to fight. I wasn't really in the mood to watch. I turned my head towards Gaara. He definitely was into this. Better not disrupt him. I sighed. I wasn't paying attention to the match and before I knew it Naruto won.
He came back to the waiting area and began talking with Shikamaru. Gaara's match was next but Sasuke didn't show up. Was he going to be disqualified? I looked at Gaara. He glared at Naruto.
Kankuro was panicking. "What are we going to do now? If he doesn't show up our strategy is ruined."
"This is really bad." Temari commented.
Gaara didn't say anything.
The proctor began. "Listen everyone. One of the competitors from the next match hasn't arrived yet, o we are going to postpone this match briefly and simply jump ahead to the battle that would have followed this one."
My siblings tensed. This was really not good.
I head Naruto sigh. "Oh that's good." No it isn't.
"Hey, that means my match is closer now. What a drag!" Shikamaru whined.
"Now let's go on to the next battle. So Shino and Kankuro come down."
Kankuro looked like he was indecisive and exchanged looks with Temari. She nodded. What the hell was going on?
"Proctor, I withdraw!" What?! "I withdraw, so please advance to the next match!"
The proctor sighed. "Due to Kankuro's withdraw, Shino Aburame wins by default."
The crowd was enraged.
Temari opened her fan and flew right on the arena.
"And you are?" The proctor demanded.
"It's my turn, right?"
"Well you sure are an eager one, aren't you? Fine, let's start the next match then. Hey, you up there, come down. "
"Oh come on, what are you doing changing these matches up like this? Why is it my stupid match that gets pushed up? Oh man, this is such a drag."
"Shikamaru Nara, come on!"
"Alright! Come on Shikamaru, you can do it!" Naruto said as he patted him so hard n the back he fell down. The crowd began throwing garbage at him. Now that was rude. They shouldn't be doing that.
"What is it? You plan on giving up too?"
Naruto was very enthusiastic. "Come on, come on! Get up and fight. Gat yourself together Shikamaru! You gonna get going sometime this year?" He was so loud!
"Well if you won't move I will!" Temari was becoming angry.
"Hey, I didn't start the match yet!"
"Oh I forgot. This girl is a spunky one. I hate spunky."
I decided to skip since I knew Temari was going to win…and she did. Shikamaru would have won also, he has an impressive strategy.
The crowd has gone wild. Sasuke wasn't here.
Temari jumped back in the waiting area.
"Temari what's going on? Is he really not going to show?"
"He'll be here." Gaara murmured. "He'll definitely be here."
"Alright, the time limit has expired so I'm officially calling this match-"
There was a whirlwind of leaves on the arena. It seemed like time has stopped. Sasuke made it.
"I told you he'd come."
"God look at his face! He's such an arrogant prick! He thinks he's soooo good!" I spat. "Making us wait for his sorry little ass…"
"Alright Gaara, come down here." The proctor said. Shikamaru and Naruto were both coming towards the stairs. I looked at Gaara and I could tell he was feeling very eager for this match. Maybe too eager… He made these strange breathing noises. It must have been his demon…
"Ok, listen Gaara, don't let him throw off the plan-" Temari covered Kankuro's mouth. Gaara was heading towards the stairs. "Now is not the time to talk to him. Not unless you want to get yourself killed." She whispered.
I was going towards the stairs as well. Temari grabbed my wrist. "What do you think you are doing? Didn't you hear what I just said?"
I released myself from her grip and went after Gaara. I don't know what I was thinking. I think I just wanted to give Gaara a little head's up and wish him luck like I always did. I caught up to him but didn't say anything. I put my hand on my belly. I keep remembering I am pregnant and it makes me feel very happy.
Gaara stopped. I almost bumped into him. There were two creepy looking guys in the hall. I got behind Gaara.
"You puny kids think this tournament is about you but it's really about the people who bet on you, or against you in your case. You see our master has got a lot of money on the other guy to win."
"Got it?" The other one said. "That means you got to lose." The cork from his gourd began to move.
"Well? So what's it gonna be kid?"
"Maybe he's just too scared to talk."
Gaara got very irritated. The guy pulled out a kunai. Was he for real? I smirked. I pulled the cork.
"Have a safe trip to hell." I said. Sand started pouring out and attacking them. He crushed them in a matter of seconds. The other one was making a run for it but Gaara didn't let him escape. He grabbed him by the foot and crushed him as well. His pathetic screams echoed through the hall. I don't know which idiot hired these losers. After he was done I put the cork back.
All of a sudden Gaara attacked me, but not to hurt me. He pushed me against the wall and kissed me. I tried to push him away.
"Not here. You have an exam to finish."
"What you just did…turned me on so much…I want to fuck. Open up your legs."
"Gaara…" I let him have his way with me and it wasn't long until he was done. You could say we had a quickie.
After we arranged our clothes we continued walking. At the end of the tunnel I saw Naruto and Shikamaru. They were frozen in terror. Did they see…what we just did? I hope not, I don't think so. We were also really quiet. Gaara passed through them and I followed him. These guys weren't saying a word.
Before Gaara got through the door and enter the arena I took him in my arms.
"What do you want?" He sounded dangerous.
"I want you to show everybody that you are better than that overrated bloodline prick. I know you are…and I will only cheer you on. I know you can do this." He pushed me away. I got irritated and grabbed him and kissed him on the cheek. This didn't turn out so bad after all. "You go and show them." I smiled at him.
"Why are you so happy all of a sudden?"
"Hm?"
"You were never this happy before."
"I…don't know why…"
"Hn." He walked through the door. I heard the cheers of the people. They were mostly for Sasuke. Damn that guy. I ran towards the waiting area. I was eager myself. I knew Gaara could beat Sasuke, even though the result didn't really matter. It had to go according to plan. When I walked the stairs again those guys were still there.
"Hey you!" Naruto yelled. "What the hell happened?!"
"I don't feel obliged to speak to you."
"Why did he kill those guys?"
I stopped. "They wanted to warn Gaara. They wanted him to lose the match."
"Just why are you with a guy like him? Has he brainwashed you or something?"
"Why would he brainwash me? YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HIM!" I ran. They were getting on my nerves.
When I got up I felt a pair of arms getting wrapped around me. "Do you know how worried I was?"
"Temari…Gaara isn't going to hurt me. He said so himself." I placed my hand on my stomach.
I looked down and Gaara and Sasuke were face to face. The match was about to begin. The spectators were finally getting what they asked for…please be alright Gaara…
They were instructed to come closer to one another. "Begin!" The proctor said before jumping out of the way. Gaara began getting his sand out of the gourd and Sasuke jumped back. Stupid chicken head.
Gaara was experiencing headaches. He was talking to his 'mother' about the dirty blood he spilled in the tunnel. Sasuke was watching him like he was crazy.
"His conversation is starting already. This is dangerous." Kankuro observed.
"I know. This is the first time I've seen Gaara get like that before fighting. That's how powerful his opponent Sasuke is. Watch." Temari commented.
Gaara's sand fell. He was done talking with his self. "Come on." He said.
Sasuke threw some shuriken and Gaara made a sand clone and caught them.
"The sand shield became a sand gourd." Temari said.
Then Sasuke marched towards him and Gaara launched a load of sand towards him coming from the clone. As Sasuke was up in the air he threw some more shuriken and Gaara stopped them by throwing those he got earlier. Then Sasuke proceeded in kicking the clone with his foot, then he hit it with his hand. Gaara blocked his hand there but Sasuke succeeded in releasing himself, and altogether destroyed the clone. When he was about to hit Gaara his shield protected him. Sasuke disappeared all of a sudden and appeared in Gaara's back. He was so…fast…This time his fist collided with Gaara's cheek and he collapsed a few feet away.
"Gaara!" I yelled. I hated seeing him hit or hurt or injured in any way. I felt a hand on my back. Temari.
"Gaara is going to be fine. Trust him."
"I do but…I hate seeing him get hit."
Sasuke launched himself at Gaara and hit him. My heart thud painfully. I looked down. Sasuke was making circles around him the he approached him and tried to hit him but Gaara dodged that. Sasuke grabbed Gaara's cloths and knee bashed him in the stomach. I was so frustrated. There was aa moment of silence.
"You can do it Gaara!" I cheered him on.
Gaara made a hand seal and he was beginning to make a sphere that engulfed him. Just as the sphere was about to seal him inside Sasuke wanted to prevent him but did not succeed. He was instead attacked by some kind of needles that came from the sand sphere and jumped back. Above the sphere Gaara made the Third Eye. I looked at Temari and Kankuro. They were quite shocked and scared. This wasn't supposed to happen.
"Gaara…" Temari mattered.
Sasuke threw some kunai at the sphere but they had no effect. When he ran towards it he was attacked by it. He was unable to reach Gaara. The needles came after Sasuke but he avoided them successfully; he then got on the wall and began doing some hand signs.
"What does that lunatic think he is doing? How long is he going to stay in that thing?" Kankuro said.
"I don't know but…he is not following the plan. He's no good to us like that." Temari followed.
Sasuke charged making a weird sound. He was like doing something with electricity. Before I knew it he penetrated the sphere. How was that possible?
"That's impossible. No one can penetrate his defenses."
"No way…"
"G-Gaara…is Gaara alright?"
They both looked at me with uncertainty.
Gaara screamed. "BLOOD! IT'S MY BLOOD!" It was like my heart just stood.
"Wha-What's happening?"
Sasuke freed himself from the sphere. As he was succeeding in escaping he was caught by a strange hand with blue lines on it. It must have been Shukaku.
"Is that thing taking over again?"
"I don't know. This has never happened before. I think he's hurt." Hurt? No, God please no…
There was an animalistic sound coming from it after he released himself. Temari and Kakuro were beginning to panic. The sphere was cracking and it revealed a wounded Gaara. I didn't know what to say. He was holding his left shoulder in pain. When I saw him gasping in pain it made me sink to my knees and cry out. Gaara…he was hurt. I couldn't do anything.
"I was right. He is hurt. The shell broke before the change was complete."
The Hokage's place was covered in smoke. It must be time. The operation has begun.
We all jumped down to Gaara. Even though I was not a ninja, this was the only thing I could do; this and jump from tree to tree. Gaara taught me as I always had to be with him.
"Stop it, Gaara!" Temari said.
"I must kill him!" Gaara warned, still holding his shoulder.
"Gaara, cut it out, we have to leave." I took his hand from his wound. "We have to fix your wound." He pushed me away.
"Leave me alone."
"There'n no point in continuing this fight." Kankuro got I front of him
"That's right, don't forget our mission."
Gaara pushed Kankuro. "Out of my way!"
Baki-sensei got there as well. "What are you doing now? Can't you see the operation is already under way?"
Gaara's head was hurting again.
The proctor got in front of Sasuke.
"What is going on? Tell me!" Sasuke demanded.
I got next to Gaara. He fell on his knees in pain. I couldn't do anything…anything…I got on the knees next to him…I didn't know if I should touch him or not.
"What's going on?"
"His wound if worse that I thought and his chakra is almost completely drained away."
"Wait, what about using that-"
"No, it's impossible right now."
"You fool! It's all because you tried to transform before the signal was given."
"So what do we do now? We need Gaara for this."
"Gaara is the trunk card of the Village hidden in the Sand. We have to get him to play his part no matter what. Alright. From now on you take Gaara and tend to his wounds. As soon as his chakra has been restored the operation will continue."
"You got it." Kankuro made a move to help Gaara stand up.
"And you, sensei?"
"I'm going to take care of these guys." He turned to Sasuke and the proctor. "GO!" he yelled.
And with that we were on our way. I followed them as fast as I could. I was very worried for Gaara…this feeling of…helplessness…I couldn't do anything to make him feel better…I felt very responsible for him and I didn't know why…We just ran through the forest. I could tell Sasuke was right behind us.
"Kankuro, Ai, we have to go faster!"
I didn't want to slow them down and I maintained my pace. After a while we decided to take a break. Temari tried to listen to see if we managed to escape being followed.
"Well Temari, what's up?"
"He's close. Very close."
"I knew it. What do we do?"
"Leave everything to me."
We decided to leave some traps and we waited for a while. It looked like the traps were a waste of time. Sasuke found us.
"Oh geeze."
"If it isn't Sasuke Uchiha…"
"This is as far as you guys go."
"So what are you gonna do, huh?"
"Go Kankuro, get Gaara away from here!" Temari threw three kunai at Sasuke but she missed. "I'll take care of this one."
"Don't be a fool Temari, this guy is too much for you to handle all on your own."
"Don't argue. Our mission is to make sure that Gaara is safe. He's our first and only priority. Don't worry about me. This is what I've been waiting for. Get going, Kankuro." I had to follow him. I had to always be with Gaara.
"No you don't!" Sasuke threw a kunai towards Kankuro but managed to hit me instead. I winced.
"Ai, are you alright?"
"Keen going, Kankuro! It only scratched me! I'm fine, I promise!" I wish Temari was going to be alright.
After a while another three shuriken came our way but we both managed to dodge them. Uchiha reached us…but what about Temari? I got in front of Gaara in case he decided to pull a move on him.
"Are you through running away?"
"Who says I was running?"
"I'll take you on. No problem."
"Wait!" Temari came. Thank God!
"Temari, when he showed up and you didn't I thought…he must have finished you."
"He cut up, and when he didn't I don't know…I guess I didn't delay him for long, did I?"
"It's ok. Every second gives Gaara more time to recover, and the more chakra Uchiha is forced to use the better for us."
Kankuro put Gaara down. "I got this, Kankuro! Get Gaara out of here! Go on!" I could have but…I didn't have the necessary force to carry him…I couldn't even carry the gourd…I felt useless…
Kankuro jumped on the next branch. "Temari, you take Gaara and go on ahead."
"Huh?"
"You're all worn out! Look at yourself! Go on! You'll only get in my way!"
"Wait a second!"
"GET MOVING!" Temari glanced at Gaara. "Hurry up!"
"Alright." Temari picked Gaara up and meand her continued running through the wods, leaving Kankuro deal with the Uchiha. Temari was gasping for air. I knew she was tired. I really wanted to help but there wasn't really something I could do.
I heard Gaara groaning. "Temari…put me down!"
"Are you strong enough Gaara?" We landed on a thicker branch. Gaara's head was hurting again. Temari pulled out some medicine. When Gaara heard the medicine being open he turned towards Temari.
"Leave me alone Temari. Go away!"
Temari was wary of him and wanted to support him. "You're nothing but a nuisance!" he said before he punched her right into another tree."I don't need you."
"Gaara please…at least let me take care of you. It won't hurt and-"
"And you…leave me the fuck alone." No…he was about to hit me to. I was scared for my baby. He raised his fist to stroke me. I put my hands on my stomach.
"No Gaara! Don't hurt your baby-" Temari panicked and covered her mouth. Terror was stricken on her face.
"Baby!?" He turned towards me. "You are pregnant?"
"Gaara please don't hurt me! You don't have to take care of him; I will do it on my own! If you don't want him then you don't have to be his father, but please don't kill him!" He slapped me.
"Why are you protecting that little monster?!"
"Because…it's something we made together…He is not a monster." He didn't like this answer. He punched me right in the stomach, sending me right next to Temari, but thankfully she caught me. I was conscious for a few minutes, before my eyes slowly closed. The last thing I saw was Sasuke arriving and Gaara turning into Shukaku.
"Gaara…" I whispered before falling inside the black…
