How to deal with a dark soul
Chapter 10
~ Gaara ~
"I heard what you said at the hospital. About the sand spirit and your upbringing. I can feel your suffering Gaara. And I know I can't even begin to understand. But I think I can help, if you let me try."
"I don't need help." I reply. Why is she such a pest? Can she ever just leave me alone? I want to send her away. Tell her to leave. But I can't make myself. I have been alone so long. I have forgotten what it's like to have someone close. Even to this day everyone who has gotten close has betrayed me. My father. My uncle. Can I ever really trust anyone again? No. I can't. I had never even treated my brother and sister like family. They are simply there. For necessity. But what about Lace? Is the little academy girl even capable of a betrayal? She looks up at me with huge sad eyes. She has showed me nothing but kindness. I owe her. And I hate that. I can't her back. I don't know how.
I look to my left hearing someone. Kankuro, I guess. His steps are more casual and he wouldn't feel the need to be careful since Lace is here.
"But I can help! Nobody can do everything alone Gaara, please let me try. Just try!" Lace complains her voice becoming high and shrill. "Come on. Please."
"Fine. Just be quiet." I can give her that. No matter what she does I will just have to keep a tight grip around Shakaku. Maybe Lace will leave me alone if she sees how horrible I can get first hand. Lace grins happily. "But not now." Even if I haven't admitted it I'm still wounded from my fight with both Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzimaki. I had used a lot of chakra and my body is incredibly strained. Lace pouts but she sits back against her wall and keeps quiet. It's good to have her quiet and calmed down. I sigh deeply and let myself relax and begin healing again.
~ Kankuro ~
I'm glad that Lace came. Gaara has been temperamental since he had lost. Lace's presence always brings a subtle feeling of peace. Vague has it too but it's different. I only kind of listen to Gaara and Lace's conversation. I don't much care about the words. I'm only waiting for sudden quiet or hysterics. Lace is no match for Gaara. And even just being in the next room, I wouldn't be able to make it before Gaara crushed her. Nothing but I stain on the carpet and walls. Nothing but a memory amongst the Omoi family. Even if I did make it in time, I wouldn't be able to stop my brother. Not just does Gaara severely out rank me. But he also knows all of my tricks. Since we have been training and going on missions together for years.
And just as I had hoped wouldn't happen. The other room goes silent. I wait a few minutes to see if it's only a gape of shock or an awkward silence but it goes on longer. I creep around the corner and peek in through Gaara's door.
To my surprise nothing had happened. There's Gaara in his usual spot, sitting cross legged with his hand locked in front of him. At first I can't see Lace. And I wonder if maybe Gaara had pushed her body out the window. But I find her right next to Gaara. Almost sarcastically close, mocking his position. Gaara eyes open to find me staring at them. Our eyes meet. Then Lace's head lolls to the side and she falls into Gaara. I jump trying to find a way to help. But Gaara lets her fall, setting a hand under her head so she wouldn't smack it against his knee.
My mind races. Is she dead? Has Gaara found a new hobby? But Lace moves hugging around Gaara's waist and nuzzling into him. Gaara's eyes seem strange. Confused?
"She's asleep." I assure myself. Lace is asleep. Her white hair is striking against Gaara's black clothing. I take a step in. "You want me to move her?" It almost hurts me to see such a helpless young girl in the arms of a well-known killer.
"No." Gaara says lightly. But that killer is Gaara. Who never seems to follow normal rules. Gaara looks at me with eyes holding an unspoken question. He opens his mouth to say something but instead he just growls and looks down at Lace. "Leave." He orders. Leave? So he can do what? I don't want to know. Gaara can do what he wants as long as he leaves the Leaf village unharmed.
~ Temari ~
I come home late. It's already dark and my bones ache from a long day. I dream of a bath and a long sleep. I find Kankuro sleeping in his room which has recently been vacant. Then I go check on Gaara. I open the door, and then close it blinking profusely and no longer breathing. I run into Kankuro's room and shake him.
"Kankuro! Is it just me or is Lace still here?"
"Huh… what? Temari? What time is it?"
"8:30!"
"In the morning?" Kankuro wonders.
"At night you idiot!"
"I slept a whole day?!" he exclaims. I just growl and flip over his mattress.
~ Lace ~
I blink awake hearing yelling. I don't want to wake up. I'm so comfortable and warm. I look around barely noticing that I'm not in my room. Then I feel Gaara's soul close, almost touching mine. I sigh and lean into him hoping he hasn't noticed that I'm awake. At this moment I can almost see why Vague is always with someone. My heart feels warm and light as a lean in close breathing him in. I can almost see why my sister does so much just to have her heart broken. All those times she had slept with strange men. I can now understand. Because as I feel Gaara against me, I want more. I crave to have Gaara closer, mind and body.
~ Gaara ~
"Gaara?" Lace whispers looking up at me. There is something in her eyes that pulls on something inside me. Lace has a way about herself. She always does the unexpected. I don't understand how to answer her question. The part of me that always felt this sort of acting strange wants me to push her away and glare at her for getting so close. But the rest of him, a newly found powerful part wants me to respond and pull her closer. To learn what her skin and hair feel like. To learn the difference between her tears of joy and those of sadness. But as contact is even new I have no clue how to proceed on such things. I manage a happy medium.
"What?" It comes out both a little too harsh and a little clueless. I mentally curse myself. I hate not knowing things. It's difficult to react properly when you don't know what's in store.
~ Lace ~
Something in Gaara has shifted. Since the fight with Uzimaki something has been lit. It's a new beginning. He has many more steps to take, and they will be hard. But he has opened something new. Now once he learns what it is. He will finally be able to grow as a person. I look forward to seeing it happen.