Chapter Eight: Lies

Sphinx awoke the next morning to the sound of birds. Her eyes remained closed as she let out a kitten like yawn. She opened her eyes and blinked a few times to focus her eyesight. She lifted her hand and to rub her eyes, but her hand and arm was being held down by something.

She finally opened her eyes and saw Gaara's face right in front of hers. His eyes were wide and bloodshot. Sphinx was struck with fear from the blood lust in his eyes. She tried to get up, but sand was holding her arms and legs down. Sand then formed into a spike right above Sphinx.

Sphinx's fear took over as she screamed, hoping someone would her. Quickly there was pounding on the door.

"Sphinx…! Sphinx…!!" Temari and Kankurou could be heard yelling out trying in vain to get through the locked door. Frantically Temari yelled out over the banging,

"Sphinx…! What's wrong?! Open the door!!... Gaara!? Gaara, what are you doing?!! Gaara!! Sphinx…!!" Right when Temari yelled out to Sphinx that last time the sand spike came down towards Sphinx.

But by a stroke of luck Temari and Kankurou were able to break the door down. Gaara's attention was diverted and the spike ended up stabbing through Sphinx' left arm.

Or did it? The sand had split, and her arm was unharmed. But Sphinx choked in pain. The sand let her go and retreated back into Gaara's gourd. Sphinx tried to yell out, but the pain was too great.

Gaara left the room while Kankurou and Temari hovered over Sphinx in worry. Sphinx had rolled off of her bed and was on the floor now gasping and writhing in pain. The armor she wore on her left arm was left in pieces on the floor and bed, revealing a grotesque burn scar covering her hand and arm.

"AAAH!!" Sphinx screamed out as she shot up into a sitting position. The sheets of the bed being flung into the air with her sudden movement. Sweat flung off of her face. Sphinx then began to pant heavily with her wide, fear struck eyes fixed forward.

She looked at her left arm. It was normal. She lightly fingered it, making her wince in pain slightly.

Three days passed since Sphinx first came to this house. She had come quite used to living this way. But she had that dream every night since her arrival to this house with Gaara.

Sphinx stood up, some of the sweat rolling off of her face and onto the floor. She went straight into her bathroom and got into the shower. Ignoring Temari who was knocking on her door.

This had become a daily routine.

Sphinx would wake up screaming, which would get Temari out of her room, and knocking on the door.

Sphinx didn't feel like dealing with Temari for now. Sphinx decided to use her sakura scented shampoo, conditioner, and body wash again. It was her favorite scent out of the others Temari let her buy.

Once Sphinx got out of the shower she put on a newly cleaned fur outfit, then put some lotion on her arms and legs. Since the desert air did not mix well with her skin surprisingly. She then added a spritz of body mist on. All of the same sakura scent.

What she loved about all those things was that the smell wasn't overpowering at all. Despite everything she used.

Sphinx dried off her red and black hair, and then finally emerged from her bathroom. She stretched a bit, and then went to her door. She hesitated a bit then unlocked her door.

She had locked it every night after her first night there. She cautiously poked her head out into the hallway and looked around with her yellow eyes. Then walked out, closing her door behind herself, and walked down the stairs.

She cautiously walked through the house into the kitchen, where she was greeted by Temari and Kankurou.

"G'mornin' Temari-chan. G'mornin' Kabuki boy." Yes, Sphinx was still calling Kankurou "Kabuki boy" but by this time Kankurou just tried his best to deal with it.

Sphinx grabbed butter and milk from the fridge and then quickly put some bread into the toaster. She put a plate onto the counter then snuck over and snatched a few pieces of Kankurou's bacon.

"Hey!" He yelled at her. She stuck her tongue out playfully, while Temari laughed a bit. Sphinx put the bacon on her plate then grabbed the fresh toast and spread the butter. She then chomped down on one of the toast pieces.

"Was everything all right earlier? You didn't open your door."

"Oh yeah... Just fine..." Sphinx gave Temari a false smile, and shoved a piece of bacon in her mouth.

After a few moments Gaara walked into the kitchen. Sphinx stood still for a few short moments, then shoved what was left of her food into her mouth and dashed out of the kitchen.

Sphinx ran out of the house, and caught her breath. Her arms shook violently.

It had been a long time since Sphinx was scared that badly. She leaned her back against the wall next to the door, as her mind began to wander back to that time:

"Mama…! Why are you doing this?! I'm better now see?" The now seven year old Sphinx pleaded to her mother. Her mother's face never changed, as she looked at her with emotionless eyes. Sphinx felt someone grab her by the hair and throw her to the ground.

"Get on the wagon!" A strange man's voice yelled to her furiously. Sphinx got up, but no tears came from her eyes. The little seven year old Sphinx looks back at her mother, her eyes still pleading to reconsider her decision. But soon Sphinx was picked up and thrown into the wagon by her arm.

Almost immediately the wagon started moving. Sphinx tried to jump out the back, but the slave women in the wagon grabbed her. Sphinx cried aloud as she reached for her mother who was retreating inside the house.

Sphinx was gently pulled back by one slave woman, who then cradled Sphinx in her arms. And let her cry into her kimono sleeve. Sphinx's cries were muffled, but her tears soaked the sleeve. As the wagon road off to only the slave traders knew.

Sphinx returned to reality and violently shook her head, while dashing away a few tears that escaped from her eyes. She felt like she was being watched and saw Gaara's third eye right next to her.

Sphinx growled angrily and her hand shot up, crushing the eye into a burst of sand.

--Why does he always have to watch me?-- She thought to herself as she walked over to the metal wall, and leaned forward on it.

She looked down amongst the villagers. Watching some complete their morning errands, some leaving and going to their homes. Sphinx's eyes continued to wander around below.

Soon she caught sight of a group of young children playing. They were all ninja students and were on their way to their new lessons. Sphinx smiled. Warmly as she watched them until they disappeared behind some buildings.

Sphinx then sighed. She glanced back at the house, thinking for a few moments. She debated whether she should go back inside or not.

She sighed again then made her way for the door. She opened it, only to be met face to face by Gaara.

"Why did you run from me?" She asked her a little forcefully. "And why were you crying when you were outside?" Sphinx let out a breath of air through her nose.

"That's none of your concern now is it?" She said to him angrily as she forced her away passed Gaara. But she felt his hand grab her arm and yank her back.

"Yes. It is my concern. I have to protect you after all."

"Hmph..." Was the only thing that Sphinx said as she turned her head away from Gaara. Gaara leaned in towards Sphinx but was cut short by the doorbell. Sphinx took this opportunity and slipped away from Gaara.

Sphinx opened the door. When her eyes lay on the person outside of the house, Sphinx took a step back, her eyes wide.

"Wh-what…!? What are you doing here?!" Sphinx almost yelled. Gaara jumped in front of Sphinx defensively, and his sand shot up towards the woman outside. But stopping short from her.

"Gaara…! Please! I'll take care of this!" Sphinx said as she pushed Gaara away. She turned back to the woman. Who had silver hair and blue eyes. Both the woman's face and Sphinx's were extremely identical though.

"Why are you here Nariko?" Sphinx asked, while leaning on the side of the doorway.

"Do I need a reason?"

"To travel such a long way... To see a person such as me seems a bit odd for you."

"I'm hurt you would say such a thing Amaya-chan."

"Don't call me by That Name!!!!!" Sphinx immediately lashed out, slapping Nariko across the face. Nariko smirked and chuckled.

"It looked like he hasn't killed you yet. That's a shame. I was coming here to see if you were dead or not." This was the last straw. Sphinx growled angrily and slammed the door right in Nariko's face.

After Sphinx angrily slammed the door, Gaara asked her a question.

"Nande, when you see that woman, you tense up and become defensive?"

"Hmph…! And why does it interest you so?"

"Because... I noticed that you used to be tense with me. …But… When I saw you get near that woman you were even worse. Now tell me!"

"Feh, fine…! But I suggest you sit. It's a long story." Gaara remained standing showing he wasn't going to sit anytime soon. Sphinx shrugged as she sat in a nearby chair.

"Well, let's see where to start?"

"Who she is might be a good start."

"Ok, ok. Jeeze... That woman, Nariko, is... my mother." Gaara seemed to flinch at the word "mother," but Sphinx continued.

"The reason why I get so tense around that woman is because... Of all the pain she has caused me in the past… and even now." Gaara's eyes narrowed into a glare, as he motioned for Sphinx to explain.

"Well, since I can remember that woman has never given me love. When I was seven she sold me into slavery for no real reason, aside she didn't want to deal with me. The first place I went to was horrible." On Sphinx's armored left arm, she placed her hand gently on it, as if to keep herself calm.

"During the time I spent in that house as a slave my owner..." Sphinx paused then sighed as she slid the armor sleeve from her arm for the first time. A grotesque burn scar engulfed her entire arm, all the way up to her shoulder.

"My owner used a jutsu to inflict this scar upon me. The wound didn't fully heal for an entire year. And even now it causes me pain, especially when touched. Luckily a few weeks after that happened I was transferred. I became a slave to the Hidohana clan. The sister clan of the Uchiha clan." Sphinx put the armor back on her arm.

"I lived a lot of my life in Kusa no Kuni, but because the head family of the Hidohana clan was so kind they allowed me to attend the ninja academy in Kusagakure. Before my last year I returned home. I couldn't wait to see my ka-san. But when I got back, I was only greeted by my ka-san's fury. I have a ton of scars from her. But I still lived in her house, and graduated from the ninja academy in my home village Amegakure. When registering as a ninja student I changed my name. My birth name is Ai Amaya. I changed my name to Sphinx." Sphinx looked up to Gaara. His hands were griping his arms and his eyes were fulled with anger.

"What?" Sphinx said as she looked at Gaara, wondering why he was suddenly so pissed. The next thing Sphinx knew Gaara disappeared in a gust of sand.

"What?" Sphinx said again. She thought a few moments, and then realized where Gaara had gone.

Gaara appeared in front of the woman Nariko, somewhere on the edge of Sunagakure. Nariko glared at Gaara.

"Do whatever you want to the bitch. I don't care. Kill her for all I care!" And with that Nariko forced her way passed Gaara. Gaara was now even more furious as he turned and watched Nariko for a few moments.

Gaara took the cork out of his gourd, and suddenly a huge tendril of sand shot towards Nariko. Who turned around just in time to see it coming at her.

Suddenly an armored arm shot out in the path of the sand. Gaara looked and saw the arm belonged to Sphinx. Gaara's sand retreated back into the gourd.

"Gaara…! Please don't kill her!" Sphinx yelled out, holding back tears.

"Why?" Gaara asked her, confused as to why Sphinx wanted to keep her mother alive. The woman who caused her the most pain in this world. The woman who hated Sphinx the most.

"It looks like you have served me good for one thing in your life." Nariko said to Sphinx. Immediately Sphinx turned around and grabbed Nariko by her hair. Sphinx punched her in the stomach then pounded her into the ground.

"Better watch what you say. You and I both know I can take you out in five seconds." And then Sphinx lifted Nariko up by her hair and threw her away a few feet.

"Come Gaara. Let us go back to the house." Sphinx said angrily. She grabbed Gaara's hand and then pulled a huge scroll, the size of Temari's fan, from nowhere. The bottom of the scroll sat on the ground while Sphinx held the top with one hand.

Sphinx gave one last glare to Nariko, and then spun the scroll around, making it open, and both of the ninjas disappeared behind the scroll. The scroll disappeared shortly after.

Sphinx and Gaara appeared back at the house. Immediately Gaara began.

"Why didn't you let me kill her?"

"..."

"Why?!"

"..."

"Isn't she the one who has caused you the most pain!?"

"Hai..."

"Then why did you protect her?!!"

"…Because even though she has caused me so much pain she is still my mother. And I can't help but love her."

"Why?!! Why not just kill her!? She obviously doesn't care for you at all!!" Sphinx, who had turned around to look at Gaara, took a step back, lightly shaking her head. Tears formed in her eyes.

"Fuck you Gaara!! I never want to see your face again!!" Sphinx yelled out and immediately ran up the stairs and into her room, slamming the door shut and locking it.

Gaara stood there, baffled, for a few moments. His mind processing what Sphinx just said to him. It had been a long time since Sphinx had spoken to him and yelled at him like that in one blow.

--I know he's right. But... He didn't have to say that... But why... why does he suddenly care so much...? And why... did I...-- Sphinx thought to herself.

"Am I... falling in love with...- No!! No, no, no, no!!" Sphinx yelled out to herself as she shook her head furiously. She looked up then saw her back pack. It was starting to collect dust. But then Sphinx knew what she had to do.

She ran over to the back pack and threw it onto the bed. The window next to the bed was open but Sphinx paid it no heed. Quickly, Sphinx began putting anything she found necessary into her back pack, until she couldn't fit anymore.

"What are you doing Sphinx?"

"..."

"You better not be leaving." Gaara said to her, crouching in the window sill. Sphinx looked up at him with a growl and answered immediately.

"Don't expect me to come back. I hate you too much to stay here." Gaara flinched at what Sphinx said. Sphinx turned and unlocked her door, immediately walking out of the room, leaving the door wide open.

Sphinx walked down the stairs and to the front door. But she saw Temari and Kankurou standing next to the door.

"Where are you going Sphinx-san?" Sphinx didn't answer as she walked passed them. She put her hand on the door knob, but she stood there a few moments. Sphinx seemed to hesitate.

"Follow me and I swear I'll kill you!" Sphinx said in a deadly voice as she turned her head and looked straight into Gaara's eyes. Gaara, had appeared next to Temari and Kankurou only a few moments ago, but he knew Sphinx was dead serious.

And once Sphinx said that last thing she walked right out the door. Leaving the three sand ninja alone in that house once more, with there non-existent father.