I guess the first thing I should do is apologize. I honestly don't even remember what made me stop writing this fanfiction. It isn't like I lost interest in fanfiction altogether; I still read them quite often.
I just started college a few days ago. I'm studying Game Design and Simulation. I was bored in class and checked my email, where I found the folder that I used to keep all the reviews I had received. It took me a bit of searching to find that folder, but as I scanned them, I realized I sort of missed writing this fanfiction.
So, I reread what I had already written (my writing style might be different now. I'm older, after all, and have acquired a bit more skill) and searched through my big box of old notebooks. I recently redid my room, so this was actually a long and nostalgic process. The storyline now actually has a general direction, and I am no longer winging it.
Now, if you guys actually read this, instead of fainting from shock that I didn't die and still exist, I will go ahead and let you begin reading.
This is going to follow Gaara a bit more.
-o-o-o-
Gaara gently tucked Kira's hair behind her ear before carefully picking her up. Yu, Temari, and Kankuro were already studying the seal that was in the floor. What baffled them the most was that it was carved into the ground. Whoever created it had done it years ago. Their eyes could actually see bloodstains filling in the cracks in the marble, but whose blood it belonged to was probably long gone.
He moved to the altar, putting her down carefully on the cold stone. He was about to turn to the other ninja to issue orders when Kina entered the room. He frowned, remembering that in Kira's haste she had actually forgotten her companion. It was so strange, since the two had always been inseparable until just recently. The cat looked skinnier, and her coat wasn't as glossy. Whatever was bothering her master was reflecting onto her as well.
The cat leapt onto the altar and placed her paw on top of Gaara's, her claws digging into his skin slightly before she tried to direct his hand with her paw. She didn't have thumbs, after all.
Taking the hint she was giving him, he lifted his hand up and watched as she placed her paw on a circular pattern on the altar. He placed his hand there, nearly jumping when he felt a strange pulse and heat coming from that particular spot. Kina didn't seem to be done though, and placed a claw on another similar circle that was symmetrical to the first. He placed his other hand there, finding that that spot was similar to the other. He looked up at the cat, trying to will the animal into speaking.
He was once again surprised as the circular pattern on the table moved when he pushed down on it. "This place is full of surprises." He grumbled, the edges of the altar beginning to shift.
"What did you do?" Temari questioned as she watched the altar disappeared inside itself. She let out a cry when Kira nearly disappeared into the new opening that the altar revealed. Well, it was more of a pool than an opening. Gaara had caught Kira before she could fall though, and Kina was pacing the floor like a trapped lion.
Yu and Kankuro were the first to move forward. The altar had folded inside of itself before lowering down into the ground, revealing a pool of red liquid. They nearly gagged when the smell struck their senses. It was blood.
All of the ninja stared as Kina moved to the pool, dipping a paw into the pool before meowing at Gaara. It took him a few moments for him to realize that she wanted her partner. He quickly placed the kunoichi onto the floor, cushioning her head with his lap as the cat placed a bloody paw onto her forehead. She repeated this process, placing a paw print of blood on each of her cheeks and one on her lips before scratching at the collar of her shirt.
He took out a kunai, slicing through the top part of her shirt. The red gem was protruding from her skin, glowing in a menacing light that almost hurt his eyes to look at. How could it be so bright while Kira was so pale?
Kina placed a bloody paw on top of the gem now, watching as each of the paw prints lit up in flames. Kira's eyes snapped open, their original hazel color switching back and forth for dominance over the red. She gasped for air, a clawed hand reaching up and clutching at Gaara's clothing. Her complexion was still poor, but she was now awake, though it was obvious that her mind was not with them completely as she had a crazed look in her gaze. Whatever she was seeing wasn't pleasant.
Gaara placed a hand over hers, "Yu, Temari, Kankuro; go check the other rooms near here and see if you can find traces of trespassers." He looked at the other ninja they had brought with them as the three disappeared. They had a feeling there wasn't much they could do to help their friend, and watching her struggle was painful.
He pondered what to have the other ninja he had brought with them. They all had looks of confusion, but he could also see fear.
He knew that look all too well. It was the same look he had seen others look at him with. Back when he really was like the demon sealed inside of him. There were still people that looked at him with that emotion, but these people weren't looking at him in fear. They were looking at Kira. But she didn't have a demon inside her. It was something else entirely; something he was just beginning to understand, but at the same time was still lost to him. "You will not speak of this." He said, knowing that every village had its secrets. "At least not until we all have a better understanding as to what is going on. Can I trust you all to do that?" he glanced at Kina as the cat glared at him impatiently.
"Of course, Kazekage-sama!" the other ninja chorused.
"Good. Head back to the village then, and make sure that the medic ninja Mei is ready to take on a new patient."
"Hai!" they all stated, giving a bow to their leader before disappearing in puffs of smoke.
-o-o-o-
Gaara turned his attention back to the kunoichi that was still oblivious to what was around her. Her expression was one of pain, her teeth grinding together as her eyes fluttered open and shut. Kina gave a meow at him, sounding anxious and impatient.
"Kira…" he said, prying his clothes from her fingers. He winced as her claws sunk into his hand, watching the blood trickle down their arms from the deep gashes. She had an iron grip, and for once his sand wasn't protecting him. Shukaku was probably just as confused as he was. He said her name again, feeling relieved when she responded to the sound of her name by turning unseeing eyes towards him.
"Come on, wake up." He hated having to call out to her like this. The blood prints on her skin were still burning, but they were fading fast. Kina's urgent meowing told him that he had to get her back before they stopped.
But what was he calling her back from? "Kira!"
-o-o-o-
"Kira…"
'Who's calling me?' Kira opened her eyes, forcing them shut when the image in front of her was all too familiar; the empty eyes of her dead family. It was the thing that constantly haunted her on most nights. But there was something different this time.
"Come on, wake up."
She forced herself to open her eyes, noticing something different in the corpses she was looking at. The people there weren't her parents, but for some reason they felt like they were. She took a few steps forward, towards the smallest body. The body looked identical to hers. In fact, it looked just like her. The only difference was the scar where the gem rested. She reached forward, putting a hand where it was supposed to be. "Who are you?" she asked, feeling nostalgia.
'Who are we, you mean?' Kira nearly screamed at the sudden voice coming from the dead body.
"What?"
'…You will know soon. Now go, before you lose to it.'
"To what?"
'You will know soon.'
"What do you mean: Who are we?"
"Kira!"
-o-o-o-
Kira's eyes snapped open again, this time focusing on the face hovering above hers. She blinked, trying to remember what was happening. They were in the ruins, and the man had done something that had nearly ripped her apart. At least, it felt like it had been.
She opened her mouth to ask what was going on, but was caught short when she felt something warm and soft again her lips. It took her a few moments to realize that it was Gaara, and that the warm and soft thing against her lips was his.
"Don't do that again." He murmured when he finally pulled away, placing his forehead against hers. He could feel her body beginning to warm up again, and the bloody paw prints were no longer on her skin.
She could only nod, not really sure what had happened. All she could smell was blood, and it was easy to tell what it was coming from when she turned her head to it. Kina walked over, rubbing her head against her hand. Kira blanched when she saw the blood on her hands, knowing it wasn't hers by the smell. She sat up, taking hold of his wrists to examine the deep wounds in his hands and forearms. "Sorry…" she mumbled, though it was obvious that he didn't care as he simply pulled himself free.
"You have a lot of explaining to do. Like how a pool of blood is underneath an altar, as well as a dozen other things."
"…right now?"
He sighed, shaking his head. "No, not right now. I want you to explain yourself in a safe place. What did we come here for in the first place?"
"I was searching for answers."
"Who are we?" The memory of her strange dream suddenly hit her.
"And I think I found a few."
-o-o-o-
That is all for this chapter. I have classes tomorrow. They last about four hours each, so I might have an update soon depending on if I get any reviews out of this. I'm a little nervous, since it has been over a year since my last update. I apologize for that. Hopefully I have enough people who mark me that they will get a message on this update.
I know this is a bit of a short chapter. The next will be longer, hopefully. I just want to get something up again.
=^-.-^=
JA NE~~
