Light streamed through your window and illuminated your face. Tessa opened her eyes slowly and saw Kiba sitting on the edge of the mattress a small cupcake in his hand. A sad candle was sitting on top of it, pink wax dripping down the side. Kiba's eyes were apologetic and sorry.
"Good morning Tessa," Kiba's voice was gentle.
"Morning Kiba," She yawned and Kiba handed her the cupcake.
"Happy Birthday," He told her as she looked down at the small pastry.
"Thank you," She gave him a tight hug. She blew out the candle and pulled it out of the cake. She couldn't help licking the icing off of it and eating the cake quickly. She grabbed a pair of black skinny jeans and red T-shirt, and went to the bathroom and took a quick shower before dressing in a hurry. When she walked out Kiba was leaning against the hall wall, staring at the door.
"What's wrong?" Tessa asked him.
"It's nothing. I just," He didn't finish the sentence. She took a step toward him and Kiba shook his head. "Nothing Tess. It's nothing," Kiba told her, and she nodded, not believing him. She walked into her room with a small smile gracing her lips. She pulled on her boots and Sasuke's hoodie before going down stairs. Kiba had made pancakes for breakfast. Tess , Kiba, and Hana ate quickly before Hana drove to school. Tess wanted to stay home but Kiba wouldn't let her. She walked in to the school and received a few hateful looks from girls. The first bell had already rung and Tessa walked to her locker with a new spring in her step. It was her birthday, it was her day. She snapped the locker open quickly and grabbed the English books she needed. She rushed off to class without a second thought and almost ran directly into Sasuke. He laughed and caught her shoulders.
"Sorry," She laughed as well and he slung his arm around her shoulders. His books in his free hand. He turned and began walking toward the classroom.
"It's fine," He told her. He was in an irregularly good mood. They walked into the classroom and you felt as if every girl was glaring at ignored them and walked over to your desk. It was about halfway through class when the intercom rang out.
"We need Tessa Inuzuka to come to the office," A woman spoke. Tessa took a deep breath before getting up. Kiba gave her a confused look and she returned it. They had no idea what was going on. She glanced at Gaara to see a small smirk playing on his face. 'Shit,' She thought. She walked out of the room and down the hall toward the office. When she reached the front office, a woman in a black suit was standing there with a clip board in her hand.
"You must be Tessa," The woman spoke with a smile.
"Yes. And you are?" Tessa was cautious.
"I'm Ana Haruno," The woman had dark red hair that was pulled back into a tight bun. She had to Sakura's mother.
"Nice to meet you," Tessa smiled at her and gave a slight bow.
"Now Tessa I need to speak with you privately. If that's alright?" The woman looked down at Tessa and then to her clip board.
"Yes. That is quite alright," Tessa told the woman. Knowing that she was someone important and Gaara had to have said something.
"This way," The woman turned and led her down the hallway to an office that had a conjoined room behind the desk. "Now Tessa, do you care if I ask you some questions?" The woman looked at her, watching her for her response. as she closed the door to the hallway and sat down at her desk.
"Not at all," Tessa smiled, making sure she seemed like a normal child.
"I see today's your birthday, Why is your mom gone on such a good day for you?" The woman asked her.
"It was the last weeks she could get off work before her days reset. She wanted a break. It's no problem, though, I don't mind," Tessa smiled again making sure she didn't say too much or too little.
"And some teachers have spoken out in your concern, especially Mr. Deidara. He says your art work is morbid and deathly. He believes you have a hard home life," The woman watched her for her reaction.
"Well money is pretty tight, and with my Mom working all the time I feel like we aren't as close as we should be," Tessa shrugged her shoulders. "And I believe he's talking about my fear of the dark, childish I know but it's something I can't get over," Tessa gave a small laugh.
"Hmm. And what about your siblings? Do you feel close to them?" She asked.
"My brother and I are really close, but my sister spends most of her time studying for med school. We're all really close, but I am the closest with my brother," Tessa told her. "Mrs. Haruno. Do you mind if I ask what all of this is about?" Tessa asked her with a confused look.
"Someone sent me an anonymous email and it gave detail descriptions of abuse that you have been put through. It stated your mother was a homicidal freak who would kill you at an instant and not care for you. You have unset ribs that haven't healed correctly and you back as well as your arms are covered in scars. You see this is not something we can ignore," The woman looked down at the long email. Tessa stared at the piece of paper with a glare. "Tessa is all of this true?" The woman asked her and Tessa bit her lip. She didn't want to answer the question. "Tessa will you let me see your arms?" The woman was trying to coax her into it.
"You want me to show you the momentoes of my worthlessness? The tributes to every single one of my mistakes?" Tessa sounded angry.
"Tessabella, you have to understand. We can't do anything to your mother without proof," The woman told her and Tessa stood. She knew that Kiba would be mad at her but she pulled her shirt off to expose her back. She heard the woman gasp. Tessa turned to show the woman her stomach and Tessa pointed to a scar above her belly button.
"Mother stabbed me with a knife on my fifth birthday," She pointed to a few mis shapped ribs, "When her husband found out about me she took a two-by-four to my ribs and threw me down a flight of stairs," Tessa raised her still healing palms to the woman, "I dropped a glass plate in the sink two weeks ago. She beat me with a belt while i picked up the glass, she made me cut my palms open," Tessa looked at the woman. Her eyes were horrified. SHe ponted to a bun mark in a spiral that was scared into her left arm.
"I cried when she hit once and she took me to the stove, she placed my arm on the red hot eye and burnt me. You wouldn't believe the stench of burning skin, And that fear of the dark is because she used to keep me in the basement. She used to lock me up for days without feeling me. Is that proof enough?" Tessa had tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Yes Tessa. You can stop now," The woman wrote down some notes on her clip board.
"You aren't going to split my family up are you? I can't lose my brother or my sister," Tessa told the woman as she pulled her shirt back on.
"We'll try not to split you up, but once your mother is in prison, I can't promise you anything. Siblings often get split up in foster care," The woman told Tessa.
"No! I want you word that me and my brother will not get split up!" Tessa yelled at her.
"Okay. I promise," The woman told her.
"Can I go back to class now?" Tessa asked weakly.
"We're not letting you go back to class. I need to bring your brother and your siser in to talk to them. Then you will be free to go home, but you will not be returning to class," Mrs. Haruno told Tessa. A few moments later Kiba came through the door. Tessa's cheeks were still stained with tears and Kiba looked worried.
"What is all of this about? What did you do to her?" Kiba asked protectively.
"KIba I'm fine. No worries. Just answer her questions," Tessa motioned to the red headed woman sitting in front of her.
"Tessa?" Kiba's voice was cautious.
"Tessa would you please go wait in the small room just behind that door," Mrs. Haruno motioned behind her. Tessa did as she was asked and she heard her start asking Kiba questions.
"So you and Tessa are really close?"
"Yes. She's my sister of course we're close," Kiba answered.
"She's only your half-sister," The woman corrected her.
"No. Blood means nothing. She is my sister," Kiba corrected the woman.
"So be it. How long have you known about what your Mother does to Tessa?" The woman asked.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Kiba told the woman.
"Tessa told me about how last week she cut her palms open after she broke a plate and your Mother beat her for it," The woman watched Kiba's expression change. "And how she beat her with a two-by-four after your father left," The woman continued.
"Okay. Okay, I found out the night my father left. He didn't want anything to do wiht Tessa since she wasn't his. He couldn't stand what Mom would do to her. Mother would never tell us who her father was, just told me he was a scum bag that deserved what his daughter got," Kiba shook his head. "I've tried to protect her the best I can, but.." Kiba sighed. "I don't try hard enough," He finished.
"And when did your father leave?" The woman asked
"Tessa's Seventh birthday," Kiba told the woman.
"Nine years ago. That's a long time," The woman continued to write on the clip board.
"Please don't take her away from me. I know I've fucked up alot, but I still need to be there for her. If I don't protect her then no one will," Kiba told the woman.
"Well someone cared enough about her to send me this anonymous email," The woman handed Kiba the e-mail.
"Anonymous?" Kiba said through gritted teeth. Tessa heard the door to the office open and close.
"Kiba. Could you go wait in there with Tessa," The woman said and Kiba walked into the other room and closed the door behind him.
"You showed her your scars?" Kiba didn't sound mad. He actually sounded relieved. Tessa nodded her head and tears leaked down her cheks once more. "Shush. Don't cry Tess," Kiba brushed his thumbs across her cheeks, trying to calm her.
"I'm sorry Kiba. This is all my fault," Tessa whispered.
"No Tessa. This is not your fault. It's mine," Kiba sighed.
"How?" Tessa asked him with a laugh.
"I told you to make friends and you did. If I hadn't pushed you. We would-"
"Still be hoping Mother doesn't come home early. I wouldn't be goin to the dance tonight and I would still be afraid of when Mother is coming home. Don't blame yourself Kiba. This was me. I did this, and it will turn out alright. We won't get split up," Tessa told him.
"Tessa. Do you really think you should go to the dance tonight?" Kiba asked her.
"No, but I'm going anyways," Tessa told him.
"Alright," Kiba nodded. Hana came into the room and she had her keys in her hand.
"Let's go home," Hana told them and Tess nodded. Kiba took her hand and gave it a small squeeze before they walked down the hall. Tessa spotted Gaara walking down the hall next to the theatre teacher (His brother.) He looked up and saw Tessa, but she looked away as they turned the corner to leave the building. Tessa pushed through the door and walked out to the car. She opened the door and sat in the passenger seat.
"Do either one of you know who sent that e-mail?" Hana asked angry.
"I have a pretty good idea," Tessa sighed as they pulled out of the parking lot.
"It had to be Gaara," Kiba spoke lowly. Tessa nodded her head as they pulled up to the house and Tessa got out quickly.
"I need a nap," Tessa said as she unlocked the door and disappeared into her room. She pulled on a pair of sweats before she lay down on the matress that was laying on her floor. She pulled a blanket over her and let her sobs ease her into a deep sleep. Tears stained her pillow as she slept. She woke a few hours later and went downstairs to find Gaara sitting in the living room. Tessa glared at him and made her way to the fridge.
"What's that look for?" Gaara asked as he leaned against the breakfast bar.
"For ruining my birthday," Tessa told him coldly. She grabbed a soda from the fridge and chugged about half of it.
"I have no idea what you are talking about Tessa," Gaara looked confused. "I came over to make sure you guys were alright," Gaara told her. She pushed a copy of the email toward him.
"So you're telling me you didn't write that email?" TEssa asked him and he shook his head.
"No I didn't," He told her and she looked at him, wishing he were lying. Another person popped into her mind then.
"Damnit. I'm so stupid," Tessa rubbed her forhead. She hurried to climb the stairs and she found a girl coming out of Kiba's room. The long blonde hair was familiar. "What is she doing here?" Tessa asked as she looked Ino up and down.
"Tess. Don't be like that," Kiba told her and Tessa rolled her eyes.
"What ever," She made her way to her room and realized she knew who had sent the message. She sat down on her bed and grabbed her laptop. She heard the door creak open and Gaara stuck his head in.
"Can I come in?" He asked and Tessa barely nodded. He closed the door and sat down next to the girl. "So who wrote that letter?" Gaara asked.
"It had to be Itachi," Tessa spoke without thinking then cursed herself for being so blunt.
"Why would Itachi do anything to help you?" Gaara asked.
"He feels guilty," Tessa told him slowly.
"What did he do to you Tessa?" Gaara seemed to move closer to her. Tessa didn't say anything for a long moment just stared at the computer screen. Gaara leaned over a gently touched her right hip. She cringed and looked at Gaara with a sense of sorrow. She nodded her head and looked away from him. "Tell me Tessa, please," Gaara asked her, his voice a small begging whisper and she shook her head back and forth. Tears streaming down her cheeks again. Gaara moved to shush her sobs and wiped her cheeks with his thumbs. He couldn't take it, he leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. She gasped and sunk into the kiss. Gaara's arm encircled her waist and pushed her down to lay beneath him. She ran her hands through his hair and Gaara deepend the kiss. Gaara pulled away abruptly and swallowed hard. His eyes were steadily changing colors, from sea foam green to a cat like yellow.
"Gaara?" Tessa asked and Gaara gave a twisted smirk. He pressed his lips to hers once more and his hand slipped under her shirt, his finger touching every single one of her ribs. She gasped but didn't tell him to stop. Gaara trailed kisses down her neck and he began to raise her shirt. He kissed her stomach and Tessa tried to sit up, but Gaara held her down firmly. "Gaara. Stop," She whispered. She watched his eyes flicker in a swirl of colors. A growl escaped his throat and Tessa looked at him confused.
"Tessa. You know I love you right?" Gaara asked her. and Tessa nodded. Gaara's eyes remained the bright yellow color now.
"I love you too Gaara," Tessa told him and Gaara placed his lips on hers once more. He looped his fingers in the elastic of the sweat pants. Tessa acted instinctively and Gaara pulled her pants down to reveal black lace panties. He deepened the kiss again. Tessa seemed to know what to do without thinking. When she finally realized what was happening it was too late. Gaara was on top of her and his lips were pressed to hers. He was already inside her and she couldn't help but think it was aamzing. It was so unlike her first time that she held onto Gaara's shoulders with every thrust and she tangled her fists in his hair. When Gaara lay beside her they were both breathing heavily. Gaara held her close to him and kissed her again. Tessa curled into his side and felt at peace.
Gaara finally returned to being himself and found he and Tessa were both naked and she was asleep. Gaara sighed with relief and let her curl into him. He held her tightly against him and felt that he should have had more control. "I'm so sorry Tessa," He whispered before he fell asleep beside her.
Kiba was downstairs wondering where his sister was. She should have been getting ready an hour ago. Kiba climbed the stairs and knocked on her door. "Tessa?" He opened the door and was shocked by the scene in front of him. Gaara and Tessa were curled up together, naked. He went over to the bed and kicked the matress.
"Hm?" Tessa turned, her eyes half lidded. "What do you want Kiba?" Tessa asked in a groggy voice.
"I'd like to know why you're naked, but I already know. You are supposed to be getting ready for the dance," Kiba was glaring at Gaara hatefully.
"I changed my mind," Tessa rolled back over and Gaara held her tighter.
"Tessa. Get up and get a shower. Get dressed. You're going to the dance," Kiba told her and Tessa looked up at him.
"I figured out who sent that E-mail. It was Itachi," She smiled up at him.
"Why Itachi?" Kiba looked down at her. Then she remembered she hadn't told Kiba who had raped her. Tess grabbed a T-shirt and pulled it on quickly before pulling her grey sweats back on. She went over to her small dresser and grabbed the Uchiha tie out of her dresser.
"You remember that day you came home last week and I was laying here in pieces, well it was because of Itachi. Mother sent him and one of his friends here to rape me," Tessa told him. Kiba glared down at the tie and Tessa tossed it back into the drawer. "I know how this might seem to you right now Kiba but he didn't do anything to me that I didn't want," Tessa motioned to Gaara who was still asleep.
"Tess. I just want you to be happy. And I'm going to leave now before it gets awkward," Kiba said as he made his way for the door and shut it behind himself. Tess walked over and flipped the lock. She undressed and got under the covers again. Gaara pulled her closer and she snuggled into him again. When she awoke the next time it was Gaara waking her up. He looked down at her with a worried look and she smiled at him.
"Did I hurt you?" Gaara asked.
"I'm a little stiff, but that's my own fault," Tessa laughed and Gaara smiled.
"Good. There's something I want to tell you. Okay?" Gaara held her tightly again.
"Okay. Shoot," Tessa told him and Gaara took a deep breath.
"You know how we both had that dream, and I said it was because of a little outside force. Well that outside force dwells within my body. Its a demon that uses my body as it's host. He's a terrible person and all of this," He motioned to the clothes laying around them, "That was him. I never would have take advantage of you like that Tessa, and I'm just glad you aren't hurt," Gaara kissed the top of her head since she wasn't looking at him.
"Your eyes kept changing colors between green and yellow," Tessa told him and Gaara nodded.
"The yellow eyes are his. His name is Shukaku," Gaara told you.
"Well let Shukaku know he's great in bed," Tessa was being playful.
"I'm being serious Tessa," Gaara told her with a serious expression.
"And I believe you," Tessa told him as she kissed his lips. "And just so that you know everyone should be gone already," Tessa told him.
"Gone where?" Gaara asked.
"The dance. I told Kiba I wanted to stay home," Tessa told him and Gaara nodded.
"Good thing. I don't think I could stand to see you dance with Sasuke after this," Gaara kissed her shoulder gently.
"I don't think I could dance with him," Tessa told him as she sat up. She leaned over and kissed him gently and Gaara's hand snaked around her waist and pulled her into his lap. Tessa smiled into the kiss as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He brushed his fingers over her back and let her know with gentle touches that he belonged to her. She shifted her hips slightly and Gaara pressed himself into her. She gasped against his lips, surprised, but it turned into a low moan. Gaara slowly lay back and let Tessa take control. She intertwined her fingers in his and leaned down to press her lips to his as she began to move her hips. Gaara moaned against her lips and Tessa bent to kiss his neck.
He moaned again and again. He couldn't take the slow pace, he gently placed her on her back and sped up the pace. Tess smiled against his lips and Gaara could hear her moans. Her legs were locked around his hips. When he finally collapsed, Tessa was breathing heavily. Tessa took a deep breath and sat up again. She pushed her hair out of her face and felt Gaara's hand on her back.
"I never thought sex would take this much out of you," Tessa told him and he laughed.
"It happens," Gaara told her and began tracing her scars with one of his fingers.
"Are you hungry, because I'm starving," Tessa looked at Gaara questioningly.
"Yeah," He said and Tess pulled on Gaara's shirt. Gaara laughed, since it fell to mid-thigh on her. He pulled on his pants, and decided he wouldn't wear a shirt. She opened her door and descended the stairs. The house was empty and she made her way to the kitchen. Gaara followed her and opened the fridge to grab a soda. He took a drink then handed it to Tessa who took a long swig. She reached into the freezer and grabbed a pizza. She preheated the oven and sat on the counter. Gaara stood in between her legs and kissed her lips gently. The oven beeped and Tessa jumped down to put the pizza in the over. She set the timer and pulled Gaara into the living room. They sit on the couch and Gaara sighed.
"So you aren't freaked out about Shukaku?" Gaara asked her.
"Nope," Tess told him.
"He's dangerous though. You know how Hinata told you I hurt her, well that wasn't me. None of it was me. He always seemes to find a way to fuck everything up," Gaara told her.
"As long as You don't fuck this up," Tessa motioned between them, "I think we'll be just fine," Tessa smiled at him.