Chapter 11:

"Unforgiving"

I've never stopped crying since then.

I've never opened my heart since then.

After my consciousness gave way and when I though I was dead, I awoke. I found myself in a small home. The wooden floors creaked and the room was the color of a light shade of brown. I was perplexed, where was I? A boy around 22 years old came in. He had a blackish shade of gray for hair and his eyes were cold and dark. His hair was long and he wore it in a ponytail. I sat up and asked,

"Who are you?"

It wouldn't matter. He wouldn't tell me. But that was a long time ago. It's been a year since then but I could never forget Gaara. I wondered how he was but I never wanted to see him again, I had betrayed him and he almost killed me for it.

"Nozomi."

I turned around from the mountaintop where I was sitting at to face Itachi. He was the one who saved me and brought me to…wherever I was. I've never left the village's borders but I was always in hiding. Itachi has been training me and he's even cared for me. In a silent way. I was 14 when I was with Gaara and we both should be 15 now. I wonder if he's grown. I certainly have.

"Yes Itachi?"

"I have to go on a mission. You stay here and do not leave this village. Remember I can always find you."

I rolled my eyes, "I'm going to try anyway. Remember I told you a long time ago, I'm going to find Suna."

With that, he left. I had become friends with Itachi but he had something against me leaving. I stood up and brushed myself off. My appearance has also changed from back then. I had a shirt that fell off one shoulder and the sleeves went up to my elbow. It was long enough to go to mid-thigh but I had fishnets that went to my calves and a belt around my waist. This piece of cloth I wore was the same teal as Gaara's eyes. I also had on black sandals while my belt was black. Every time I look in the mirror, I saw my sister. My hair was as long as hers was and it was black and in layers. My bangs almost covered my eyes though.

I went down to the village and bought a map. I asked directions to Suna and an elderly lady was happy to give them to me.

'Itachi will only find us.'

I chuckled, "Then we'll just make sure he doesn't."

I bought provisions and took a bag from Itachi's home. Then I set out on my journey. According to the map, Suna was a week away.

"A week for normal humans," I grinned.

In two days, I was halfway there. As I slept, I felt a presence that alerted me. I awoke at once and looked around, there was no one but when I listened, there were 3 ninjas trying to ambush me. I stood up and faced them,

"Come out, cowards."

A man over a foot taller than me and his two accomplices stepped out into the moonlight. They all had short brown hair, their headbands told me they were from Suna.

"Hand over everything you have little girl," The leader warned.

I took a step closer to them, "I'm sorry but I'm going to have to kill you."

Without a second's hesitation, I grew my nails to become as sharp as knives and slit all their throats. I took hold of my possessions and left before their blood could attract any unwanted visitors. That night, I dreamed of Gaara.

In the next two days, I made it to Suna. I saw the gates but of course I had to sneak in. I saw a caravan entering and attached myself under, hiding the sense of my chakra. I had kept my Suna headband and I had it on now, around my neck. I walked around the streets, remembering all the experiences I had here. I walked around the whole city and even went to my old home. Now another family occupied it but it felt refreshing looking at it again. I bought myself lunch and I lost track of time, soon enough, the sun was setting.

Now it was when I made my way towards Gaara's home. What should I say? Should I run up and embrace everyone? It's been so long; maybe they won't recognize me or believe that I'm Nozomi. Maybe I should take up an alias before they dismiss me completely. I knocked on their door and a smile almost formed on my face when Kankuro answered the door. He looked so different. He only had a black shirt and black pants on but his face was still tattooed although since he did not have his whole outfit on, I could see his hair.

"What do you want?" He asked.

I stood up straight, "My name is…Ri..kutsu and I'm here to see Gaara."

Kankuro looked at me strangely but answered, "He's at the office right now."

I thanked him and I even smiled and said, "Goodbye, it was nice to see you again."

I ran towards the Kazekage's office but hesitated to enter the building. What if he was seeing his father? It wouldn't matter; I would deal with the punishment later. I would finally see Gaara again and apologize. This was the moment I had been waiting for. I walked up to the secretary and asked, "Is Gaara here?"

She nodded and pointed towards the door. I held my breath before I turned the knob. My heart was pounding in my chest but I opened the door. Gaara was at the Kazekage's desk, signing something. He was wearing a white and blue robe, which was strange for him.

He looked up and I froze before those teal eyes.

"What have you come to tell me?"

Tears almost formed in my eyes, I could never have imagined him this way. He was only 15 but he had grown so much. He seemed so mature and even his face had changed.

"Are you going to answer me?" He asked, impatiently.

But this wasn't the Gaara I knew; this was Gaara, the Kazekage.

"You-you've become Kazekage?"

He gave me a strange and harsh glare, "Who are you?"

I smiled weakly, "I thought you would remember me."

Now Gaara was alarmed. He stood up and walked over to me. He had grown much taller, as well.

"Tell me now. Who are you or I will be forced to place you in jail."

He doesn't remember at all. I always pictured this meeting to be happy, I thought he would recognize me…

"Gaara, you know how much ruckus I create when I'm in jail. I hate that place. It's me, Nozomi."

He glanced at my headband but his expression hadn't changed when I told him my name.

"You have a headband of Suna but who are you? I do not know a Nozomi."

My heart almost stopped. How could he not remember me? I had lived with him; I had been with him for months! Maybe he didn't hear me correctly…

"I'm Nozomi. Remember? Gaara? I'm…I lived with you."

"I do not know a Nozomi, I will have to ask you to leave."

I stared at him, and I couldn't stop the tears from flowing down my face. I turned and ran. Temari and Kankuro had to recognize me. I ran back towards their house and knocked. Kankuro opened again and I asked him,

"You remember me right? Nozomi? Remember?"

"Rikutsu? What are you talking about?"

I was becoming hysterical, "You remember me! I know you do!! Temari! Temari! Kankuro is playing a mean trick!"

I was broken. I was crying and I ran into the house, and headed to my room. I opened it and it was empty. There wasn't a single trace of my existence.

Temari and Kankuro ran in after me, shouting, "Get out of my house! Who are you?!"

Later, I was taken to jail.

Now I lie in here, crying. How can they not remember me? I've lived everyday waiting to see them again.

'You should have stayed with Itachi.'

"Shut up! I do not want to hear any more of you!"

I transformed, my teeth grew and so did my nails. I created a barrier around my hand and hit the wall with my fist opened. The wall collapsed and I ran away from that miserable place. I hadn't run far when I came upon Gaara. He didn't even have his gourd with him but he lifted the sand from the ground and captured me.

I couldn't move and I kept on crying. I looked him, deep in the eyes and found no mercy, no recognition, no Gaara.

"You're a threat to this village. I'll have to kill you if you don't stop."

I remembered that from sometime long ago but why couldn't he recognize me? Why?

"I love you Gaara! Don't you remember? You almost killed me a year ago?!"

But his eyes weren't showing any mercy and….he closed his hand…

I gasped as I awoke. I was sweating and panting, tears were still streaming down my cheeks. I was in Itachi's home in my bed. He was sitting next to me and I growled at him,

"You! You traitor! You hypnotized me and made me experience that…"

I couldn't even finish my sentence; my whole body was shaking from fear. Itachi must have sensed me leaving the village. I turned to him but he grabbed my arm and squeezed the life out of it. I cried out in pain but Itachi only whispered,

"Never leave me again."