Chapter Ten: A day out with the guys
Manami's POV
I woke up earlier than expected.
6:00am
I did my morning routine anyway.
I prepared breakfast and found Gaara on the roof (again).
"Gaara-kun, let's go." I said.
After we ate breakfast, we waited outside the Hokage's building.
It was around 8:00am.
I saw Sasuke walking to the Hokage's building.
I waved at him and as soon as he saw my face, he began running over to me.
I smiled at him and turned to Gaara.
"As you know Sasuke-kun, this is Gaara-kun, my best friend." I said.
"Yeah, I know who he is." Sasuke growled.
"Why, don't you like him?" I asked sadly.
"He's the one I'm gonna fight at the third exam." Sasuke replied.
Gaara smirked.
I gasped.
"But then…" I whispered.
"Don't worry about it Manami, let's enjoy this day." Sasuke said.
I nodded and smiled at both of the guys.
I took hold of Sasuke and Gaara's hands and began to stroll around Konoha.
--xx—
It had been two full hours and I ate some food, trained a bit and tried to fight off Sasuke's fangirls.
Those fangirls are really annoying…
I kept walking around and the next thing I noticed was that I was being attacked by a fangirl.
"GET OFF MY SASUKE-KUN!!! OH, SASUKE-KUN, HOW I LOVE YOU SO…" The fangirl screamed.
"Get off YOU LITTLE WITCH!!" I screamed.
I took out a kunai and she started backing away slowly.
We walked for a while until we sat some near a lake.
I smiled and enjoyed the view.
I turned around to the guys.
They were glaring at each other.
"Hey guys, want me to get something for you? I mean, I did drag you all the way out here…" I said.
Sasuke smirked.
"Now that you mention it, I'm feeling a bit thirsty…" Sasuke mumbled.
I nodded.
"I'll get you a drink. You and Gaara should just sit here and wait." I said.
They nodded and I left.
Sasuke's POV
"Gaara, you do know that she likes me, right? I suggest that you back off" I hissed.
"What do you know?" Gaara mumbled.
I threw a kunai at him.
He dodged it, of course.
I appeared next to him.
"Why don't you just give up!?!" I yelled.
"You should know that I don't give up easily. Take Rock Lee for example. I got hurt by him, so I crushed his arm and leg." He mumbled.
I grabbed him by the shirt and shook him.
"Who do you think you are?!?" I said.
I got a kunai out and got ready to stab his shoulder, but sand blocked it.
"What…?" I whispered.
Gaara smirked.
I jumped away and tried to hit him from afar.
I threw a kunai at him and was close to him, but the kunai stopped.
It stopped in midair.
"Huh?" I said.
Someone caught the kunai in midair.
It was Manami.
"Manami!" I said.
I jumped down.
She gave me the most heart-breaking face I've seen.
"How could you…?" She whispered.
I tried to fix things up.
"Manami, I—"
"No, Sasuke-kun, you tried to hurt my best friend…" She said.
"But I—"
"Why would you want to hurt him?" She simply asked.
"Because… I'm… jealous of him…" I mumbled.
"But why?" She asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" I asked sadly.
She looked confused for a moment.
"Manami Hyuga. I've fallen in love with you." I said.
She blushed slightly.
"You can go home now, Sasuke-kun. I don't feel like going out anymore…" She mumbled.
She turned around and walked away.
"Nice going, Uchiha." Gaara mumbled.
He turned and followed Manami.
"I'm so sorry Manami…" I whispered.
Manami's POV
I turned around and walked away.
I'm so confused.
What's a girl supposed to do in this situation?
I saw Gaara catching up to me.
"Manami, Daijobu?" He asked.
"H-Hai…" I mumbled.
"You don't look okay." He said.
"I'm just a little confused…" I mumbled.
I walked a little bit faster this time.
I just wanted to be alone.
I sat next to a river, looking at the ripples of the water.
I opened my hand.
Fire began to come out.
I sighed sadly.
My demon won't rest.
As you know, my demon is a fire demon.
--xx—
Half an hour had passed.
I was completely unaware that my demon could take over.
My life sucks.
If I pick Gaara, Sasuke would have his heart broken.
If I pick Sasuke, Gaara would have his heart broken.
Either way, somebody's going to be hurt.
Damn it.
Suddenly, I felt a surge of power throughout my body.
No… this cannot be happening.
Then, a pair of cat ears cam out of my head and I grew out a tail.
It's been a long time, Manami-sama… A voice said in my mind.
Oh shit…
It's the demon.
"What do you want!?!?" I screamed.
You know exactly what I want, Manami-sama… I want you to destroy everything… with me. The demon said.
"BAKA NEKO!! LEAVE ME ALONE!" I yelled.
I'm afraid I can't do that Manami-sama.
"NO!!"
It was too late.
The demon was taking over me.
My demon began to take its monster form on me.
My nails were growing sharper and longer.
Oh shit…
My teeth were growing and it began to look like cat teeth.
Very sharp.
You'll be happy once we destroy everything, Manami-sama. Let's start with your loved ones… perhaps... Sasuke and Gaara? The demon said.
Shit.
"NO!!!!!!!" I screamed.
Gaara's POV
I followed Manami, but after half an hour, Manami was gone.
Then, I heard someone scream.
It was a girl.
She sounded a lot like…
MANAMI!!
"Kuso… (shit)" I whispered.
I knew about her demon problem.
When half an hour passes, her demon will try to take over.
I ran through the forest, looking for Manami.
Then I heard a loud crash.
A tree must've been hit.
I kept running and found Manami screaming, trying to take control of her demon.
"NO!! STOP IT!!!!! I WON'T LET YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" She screamed.
She had tears streaming down her cheeks.
Her tears were breaking my heart.
Sasuke's POV
I stayed at the lake for about half an hour and was just about to leave until I heard a loud crash.
It was in the direction where Manami walked.
I ran towards the sound, hoping that Manami was okay.
I heard her screaming, so I ran faster.
Damn it… that girl is making me worried… I thought.
I followed her screams until I found her in the middle of the forest.
I also saw Gaara.
Why can't he just leave her alone? I thought.
Manami began turning into a demon.
Oh crap.
Manami's POV
My demon began taking over me.
You'll be happy once the troubles in your life are gone… Its voice echoed in the forest.
Great.
Now the whole forest can hear it.
"NO! I WON'T LET YOU!!!" I screamed.
My demon began smashing trees and destroying everything.
I began crying until I heard someone's voice.
"MANAMI!!! SNAP OUT OF IT!!!!!!!!!!" The voice said.
I turned to see Sasuke.
I felt pain all over me.
I swore.
My demon was going to take its full form on me.
I felt another pain on my neck.
Oh no…
Not the cursed mark too…
Sasuke's POV
KUSO!!
What the hell do we do?!?!?
There's no choice.
I'm gonna have to call for help.
"GAARA!!" I yelled.
He looked at me.
"MAKE SURE MANAMI DOESN'T DESTROY THE VILLAGE!! KEEP HER DISTRACTED!!" I screamed.
He nodded and I ran to the village for help.
Gaara's POV
I nodded at Sasuke as he ran to the village.
How do I stop a demon girl?
I can't hurt her.
I thought about it.
So I can't hurt her… so what can I do.
I got it.
I ran up to her.
I knew that she couldn't hurt because 1: I'm her best friend and 2: I have my sand to protect me.
I grabbed her by the shoulders.
"Manami, STOP IT!!!" I yelled, shaking her by her shoulders.
She began screaming because of the demon.
Don't you dare try to stop Manami-sama, Gaara. The demon said.
"I DON'T CARE!!" I yelled.
I pulled Manami closer whilst she cried.
"Manami! Listen to me!! You have got to snap out of it!!" I shouted.
I leaned in and kissed her.
It was the only way to calm her down.
Her eyes widened as the black marks on her body began to fade away and her demon form was going away.
I broke away to see her crying even more.
She hugged me and held her head onto my chest.
"I-I am so s-sorry, Gaara-kun…" She whispered.
I stroked her hair gently and whispered, "Shh… its okay, Manami."
Manami's POV
I cried onto Gaara's chest.
Stupid demon.
I saw Sasuke running back with Kakashi.
I let go of Gaara before Sasuke could see me.
But sadly, he did see me hugging Gaara.
He frowned.
I looked away.
Kakashi ran up to me.
"We have got to help you with your demon. NOW." Kakashi said.
"I'll try to talk with it." I said.
He nodded.
I sat down and closed my eyes.
I have done this before, because I wanted my demon to stop.
I soon found myself in a place that had water up to my ankles.
Sasuke, Gaara and Kakashi weren't there.
I walked to a cage to find my demon continuously cursing.
I called her Neko, because Neko means cat in Japanese, and my demon is a cat.
I walked closer to the cage and she glanced at me.
What do you want? Neko mumbled.
Neko was obviously angry because she failed to take over me.
We haven't talked much.
"Neko…chan, why do you always try to take over me?" I asked.
Because… I… I've had a rough life. Neko said.
"You can tell me." I said softly.
Neko sighed and turned to me.
"It's just my way of life. I wasn't a demon before. I was born into the world as a tiger until a ninja came and killed my family. I remember his name. I swore to kill him, that cold-hearted bastard." Neko said.
"What was his name?" I asked.
"Uchiha. Itachi Uchiha." Neko growled.
I gasped.
"T-That's Sasuke's brother" I said.
"I know. I want to kill everything that has to do with Itachi." Neko said.
"So, how did you become a demon?"
"Itachi put me on a powerful jutsu that lasts for eternity. I turned into a demon and somehow I found you with your brother in the forest and I became your demon. You were around two years old."
"Oh…"
"I'm sorry, Manami-sama. But I must kill Itachi."
"But why must you take over me? You could wait for the day when we meet Itachi and then you can get your revenge." I said.
"I can't wait that long, and besides, I try to take over you so that when I have my full form on you, we can split into two, meaning, I'll be my full demon form and you'll have your normal body." Neko explained.
"I see… but, you can wait. Sasuke is going to get his revenge too, and I know that someday we will kill him… so please… can you stop trying to destroy everything?" I asked.
Neko sighed again.
I… suppose so… but when I see Itachi again I am not going to be stopped from killing him.
"Okay. Arigato, Neko-chan, this means so much to me." I said.
Manami-sama, before you leave, there's one more thing I have to say.
"Nani?"
Manami-sama, I know you like Sasuke and Gaara, but you must pick only one. They both care for you. You care for them. Choose wisely. Either way, you'll end up with a cute guy.
I giggled and said, "Thanks for the advice, Neko-chan."
I smiled at my demon before going back to the real world.
I opened my eyes to find Kakashi, Gaara and Sasuke watching me.
"So? What happened?" Kakashi said.
"We're good now. Neko— I mean, my demon won't take over… unless…" I mumbled.
"What?" Kakashi asked.
"Unless my demon sees Sasuke's brother." I said.
Sasuke's eyes widened.
"How does your demon know about Itachi?" Sasuke asked.
"Itachi killed my demon's family."
"Oh…"
"My demon will kill Itachi Uchiha, no matter what it takes." I said sadly.
I looked up at them.
"Kakashi, you can leave now." I said.
He gave me a concerned look, but nodded and walked away.
I looked towards Gaara.
I stood up to face Sasuke.
"You two, I like you both, but I… I want to settle this once and for all." I said.
They both nodded.
"I… I don't want any of you to be angry at me." I said sadly.
They understood.
"Sasuke, when you confessed to me earlier, it made me a little nervous, as in, I felt different about you… in a good way." I said, smiling to Sasuke.
"Gaara, you're my best friend and you have taken care of that necklace I gave you. It was truly sweet of you to take care of a possession for six and a half years." I said, smiling to Gaara.
"But… there is only one I care for…" I mumbled.
The boys listened intently.
I came up to Gaara and kissed him softly on the lips and did the same to Sasuke.
"Please don't hate me Gaara…" I said, "But… I feel like… I want Sasuke."
I felt tears steaming down my face.
"Gomenasai, Gaara-kun!!" I said as I cried harder.
I stuffed my face into my hands.
Sasuke and Gaara looked at each other and nodded.
I guess that was a guy's way of apologizing and forgiving.
Sasuke and Gaara hugged me at the same time.
"I understand, Manami. I'm happy for you. You will be happy with Sasuke in your life" Gaara said.
I was surprised at Gaara's reply.
"You mean… you don't hate me?" I asked.
"No, not at all. I just want you to be happy." He said.
I hugged him.
"Thank you so much…" I said.
I looked at Sasuke and gave him a small smile.
He smirked at me.
I blushed slightly and walked up to him.
"I'm sorry if I hurt you, Sasuke-kun." I mumbled.
"No, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for hurting you." Sasuke replied.
I hugged him.
Sasuke is such a great guy, so is Gaara.
"Manami?" Sasuke said.
I looked up into his dark eyes.
"Manami, I want you to call me Sasuke. Not Sasuke-kun. Okay?" Sasuke said.
I giggled softly.
"It reminds you of the fangirls, right?" I said.
"Yeah."
"Very well then, Sasuke." I said.
Then, he lifted my chin and kissed me.
"I'll leave you two to it, then." Gaara smirked.
I blushed and continued kissing Sasuke.
He broke away and said,
"I love you."
I am soo sorry that this chapter is late, but I was working on another fanfiction, my ouran high school host club one. Check it out, it's called "Ouran Academy is for the rich and the talented." NOW MANAMI IS GOING TO BE WITH SASUKE!! HOORAH!! I'm sorry if you're disappointed, but I just love Sasuke too much to break his heart.
Please review, it's not too hard either!! THANK YOU FOR READING SO FAR!!