Gaara tugged me close to him and hugged me tightly. He continued to whisper,"Don't leave."

I sat on his bed and looked into his eyes. I then lied down and closed my eyes. He then lied beside, covering us both with the warm blankets and held me. He then sighed,"Goodnight."

I smiled,"Goodnight."

I was at peace and our breaths harmonized with one another. It didn't take long for the nightmares to start again. I felt my body turn numb, and Gaara's arm no longer felt present. It felt as if my air was thickening and leaving.

"Amaya! Run!"

"Kuraiko! Why is this happening?"

"Amaya, just run towards me! I'll protect you. Just try not to panic!"

"But Tousan and Kaasan!"

"Run!"

"Kurai-"

"Amaya!"

I awoke screaming. I felt arms trying to hold me down, but I jerked them away. I opened my eyes and looked at Gaara. He seemed worried,"It's okay. I'm here."

I looked at him, shaken. There was blood. All over the place. I blinked around, but the red stains on the room and on his face wouldn't disappear. I closed them and felt tears. He wrapped his arms around me and held me tight. I cried,"Don't leave."

He whispered,"Don't ever worry about me leaving. It should be the other way around. I'm horrible and I'm afraid to lose you."

I opened my eyes and he smiled. He nuzzled my nose and I looked at him shockingly. Then smiled. I wrapped my arms around him and held him. Then banging came from the door. "Kazekage-sama!"

It sounded like the punk who tried getting rid of me. -.- I looked at Gaara. Did he say Kazekage? Gaara then threw the sheets over my head and whispered,"Don't move. Or breathe."

I sighed,"If I suffocate it's your fault!"

I did as I was told and I felt him throw pillows at me to make the bed seem like a mess. I heard the door open and foot steps. The man said,"Gaara, as the Kazekage you must learn that you can't sleep in. The village needs you, especially at a time like this."

"I understand, Baki."

"I'll be waiting outside."

The door closed and I jumped out. I took a long deep breath. "You're Kazekage? Since when?"

He sighed,"Since a few weeks ago."

"Freaking awesome!"

He looked away and I asked,"What's wrong?"

"Kurami, although I really don't want you to leave, the council isn't giving me a choice. They know you're stuck to me, but they see you as a threat."

"Why? I haven't killed anyone...yet,"I joked. He didn't smile,"Kurami, you really do have to leave the village. I can't do anything about it."

I looked at him motionless. My hand turned to a fist. I was about to punch him, but I turned away. I just bluntly said out,"I hate you. I hate how you didn't let me leave last night instead. You made me believe that you wanted me around. I thought you were my friend."

I jumped out his window before I heard anything else. I walked over to the entrance of the village. I looked back, the sun at it's highest point. I sighed and continued to walk, with nothing but my own two feet. I felt the tears spill my eyes and the pain in my throat. My hand was a fist, my legs feeling like I was dragging them with a ball and chain attacked around my ankles. I felt the salty water reach my lips and stain my tongue. I took a deep breath, but instead felt like the air was too thick to breathe. I bit my lip, but not hard enough to make them bleed. I felt the sun burn my back, the air cooling my face. I decided to hold my breath for a while, hoping the oxygen I had was enough to last me a while and wait for my lungs to open up again. I felt stupid.


I walked for hours, but it felt like an eternity. Once the village was no longer in sight behind me, I dropped to my knees. I hit the sand with my fists and sunk. I grit my teeth and felt more tears. I was stupid. I had forgotten why I didn't want to be friends with anyone or why I didn't want to be part of a person's life. I wished the genes in my body will erase the bad memories, like they've always done. I didn't understand why the images in my mind didn't go away. I yelled,"What do you want from me, Amaya? Why don't you erase the memories now? Make me forget my past like you've always had! Or leave my mind and torture another! But not me anymore! Not me..

"Give me back the life I wanted! Give me back my friends! Do it and at the same time disappear from me! I'm not you! I don't want to be! Get rid of my power! If not that kill me! Kill me and erase my existence from everyone else! Let Kurami disappear! I'm tired of this..."

I let my whole body fall and looked up at the dark sky. My mind got lost in the stars. I was tired. I wanted to rest. I haven't in so long. I whispered,"Gaara..."

I then drifted to sleep.


"Mitsuki Kuraiko, you have beem chosen to protect a pure blood of the Saeki."

"It's an honor, sir, to serve like those before me have."

"She, Princess Saeki Amaya, the heir to the head of the clan, will think of you as her brother. Although most of those protected know about their guardians, she will not therefore you will fill in the place of a brother she never met who is recently coming back from studying. You also understand that if aomething were to happen to her promised fiancee, you fill in that role to continue the clan. This has been our way as brother and sister tribes for the longest of times."

"Yes, sir. I will not fail."


I awoke shocked and out of breath. As spon as I had opened my eyes, the dream was distant and I only remember faces. I felt a sting in my arm and sweet taste in my mouth. I sat up and a pair of dark brown eyes met mine. I looked at the shocked, pale face that glowed because of his dark black hair that hanged untamed over his right eye and all over his head. He looked just as surprised as I did. He muttered,"Amaya..."

He seemed to be only about three years older than me and I felt strange. I didn't want to scream or run. I was calm and I felt peace. I stared for a few more moments and noticed he was the boy who I continued to see in my dreams. I noticed I was in a forest rather than sand and asked,"Where am I?"

"Safe... Amaya, do you remember who I am?" he asked. His voice was soothing and I trusted his words. I did feel safe. I shook my head,"I know you from somewhere. I just don't... I don't know who you are."

He smiled slightly and pressed his lips against me. I felt the sweet taste again and I saw images in my eyes. I saw me and him together, but much younger. I pulled away and touched my lips. I looked at my fingers, blood stained me. I looked at his lips, his own blood on him. I looked at my arm and he sighed,"I'm sorry about the cut. I had to make sure it was you. Well, I knew it was you. But I had to make sure we still shared our bond."

"Bond?"

"Amaya, I'm your brother. Don't you remember me?"he asked. I felt the images rush through me again and I muttered,"Kuraiko..?"

He smiled and I felt tears come to my eyes. I hugged him tightly and he whispered,"I'm glad you're alive. I did promise though, I would protect you. To my very last breath if I must, I will protect you."