Chapter Twelve: Memories and a State of Mind
Sphinx awoke early one morning. She got up on all fours and yawned, stretching like a cat somewhat. She crawled from the bed letting the covers slide off of her. She stood on her feet and stretched once more.
At least a month passed since Sphinx returned to Sunagakure. And Gaara was showing no improvement with his memory problem.
She stood in place as she stared at the wall across the room. Her mind began to wander back to earlier that morning:
The doorbell rang continuously at a quick and annoying speed. Sphinx groggily shuffled out to the front door as she tightened her blood red sash. She opened the door to see Black Jade hitting the doorbell as fast as she could.
"What are you doing BJ-chan?"
"I have something to tell you."
"Nande? Why did you have to wake me up at one in the morning?"
"I have the answer to your problem."
"What problem."
"Gaara's memory problem, that's what."
"...N-...Nani?"
"Where is he?"
Sphinx shook her head back into reality, as she took her morning shower and dressed into her fur outfit. She wasn't for sure why but she had an urge to wear that red and black fur outfit.
Sphinx then made her way downstairs. She walked into the kitchen where Temari and Kankurou were already situated. Sphinx walked in and stole Kankurou's bacon like always, but this time didn't stick her tongue out when he protested.
"Anything wrong Sphinx-san?" Temari asked her looking up from the magazine she was reading. Sphinx shook her head.
"Iiya, Temari-chan. Has Gaara come down from his room yet?"
"I'm afraid not."
"...I see..." Sphinx's mind began to wander once more. Back to that morning:
"Here. He's in his room." Sphinx said as she stopped in front of Gaara's door. Sphinx knocked on the door.
"Gaara. It's Sphinx, open up." She said almost demandingly.
"Just come in." He answered back almost immediately. Black Jade entered the room almost immediately after Sphinx.
"Ok. I have a way to solve your memory problem Gaara-san." Gaara gaze Black Jade a somewhat confused look, as Sphinx just urged Black Jade to cut to the chase. Black Jade then pulled a strange looking flower from her bag.
It looked like a strange hybrid of a lily and a sakura blossom, since there were several flowers on one stem, but they somewhat resembled a lily.
"This flower is a new one I made. The pollen is able to cure amnesia and return anyone's memories within a few short minutes. Now let's see. Gaara come over here... the pollen is- oops!" Black Jade's flower then sent a puff of sparkly smoke cover Gaara's face.
Suddenly Gaara fell to the ground seemingly comatose. Immediately Sphinx yelled and grabbed Black Jade angrily.
"What did you do?!!" She yelled out as she shook Black Jade.
"I don't know. I didn't know that was going to happen." Black Jade called out like it was no big deal. Sphinx angrily then picked Black Jade up, opened the window and threw her out.
"Sphinx. Helloooo... Sphinx!" Kankurou called out to Sphinx as he waved his hand in her face. Sphinx snapped back to reality, then suddenly a strange look in her eyes appeared. Sphinx immediately started for the front door.
Both Temari and Kankurou tried to speak to Sphinx but she seemed to completely ignore both of them as she slammed the door as she left the house.
Just then Gaara walked down the stairs, his hand on his head as he seemed to be recovering from a headache.
"There you are Gaara." Temari greeted him with a nod. Gaara just growled.
"Where is Sphinx?" He said as he looked at Temari.
"Uh... She just left..."
"Nani? Where to?"
"We don't know. She just suddenly stormed out, and I saw her mount that wolf and ride off from the window."
"Nani?!" Gaara yelled out angrily.
"She's leaving me again." Gaara said to no one in particular. Temari shook her head.
"Wait a minute Gaara. What do you mean again?"
"You don't remember the first time she left us?"
"Hai. Of course... But you do?"
"...So? I guess my memory returned." Just then the doorbell rang. Gaara opened the door, to see Black Jade.
She was juggling several Wonder Balls while singing
"OOh I wonder wonder wonder. What's in the wonder ball... Oh... Where's Sphinx?"
"Gone!"
"Gone! Where did she go?"
"I don't know. But I intend to hunt her down this time."
"Wait a minute Gaara. I think I know where Sphinx is."
"Hmph. How would you know?"
"Trust me!" Black Jade yelled back at Gaara as she pushed him onto a large sakura petal, then jumped on herself. The petal floated into the air and took off at an amazing speed.
"What are you doing!?" Gaara yelled to Black Jade.
"This is the fastest way to Amegakure!"
"Why are we going there?"
"Have you noticed anything strange with Sphinx lately? Any sudden outbursts of anger, and even talking to herself about murder?"
"...I... I think so. But I haven't paid any attention to that."
"Shit! We'd better hurry up!" Just the petal's speed heightened greatly, almost making Gaara fall off.
A few hours passed by and Finally Black Jade and Gaara landed in Amegakure.
"Come on!" Black Jade ordered Gaara as she grabbed his arm and pulled him forward as she ran through the streets.
"What is going on!" Gaara demanded, but Black Jade answered like she kept on answering.
"Just wait and you'll see! We can't waist anytime!" And then sped up some. Soon coming to a building that appeared to need some fixing up. Black Jade let go of Gaara and ran into the house.
After a few moments Gaara followed. They entered through the front door. The room they entered into was trashed.
A large table was flipped over, and some chairs had been thrown into a corner. A picture that sat on the wall had fallen and the glass covering had broken. The window was also broken and glass shards lay everywhere.
Suddenly both Black Jade and Gaara noticed a familiar raw smell in the air. Black Jade looked around, but Gaara was the first one to notice it.
On the floor in front of them were two large pools of blood. Gaara flinched slightly at the sight and smell.
"Oh... no..." Black Jade said then ran out of the house. Gaara still confused chased after her.
"What's going on! Tell me!"
"I... I'm not for sure. But we have to go see Hikage immediately."
"Who's Hikage?"
"This village's head ninja."
"Why do we need to see her?"
"Because she'll know where Sphinx is. Now we mustn't waist time." And with that Black Jade jumped onto a roof and began to make her way through the village that way.
Once again Gaara followed. It wasn't long before they come to a large building. Black Jade entered, and was greeted by three maids all saying in unison while bowing.
"Konnichiha Black Jade-sama." Black Jade ignored them and ran up a flight of stairs. She quickly turned a corner and crashed into a room.
"Where is Sphinx!?" She yelled out to a woman who was wearing expensive and a nice kimono similar to that worn by the feudal lords. Her hair was tied in a style that resembled bird wings. Her hair was midnight black as were her eyes, but her skin was pale.
"Sphinx? Oh hello Black Jade-chan. Ahh, I see you brought Sabaku no Gaara-sama with you. A pleasure."
"Hikage. Where's Sphinx?"
"Oh... She's... Come with me, both of you." Hikage stood from her chair and walked out of the room. She lead Black Jade and Gaara down a hallway and into one of the smaller rooms at the end of the hallway. Hikage passed over to a metal door on the other side of the room.
She motioned Gaara and Black Jade over. Black Jade nodded knowing what that was, but then pushed Gaara, who growled but then passed over to Hikage. Hikage motioned again for Gaara to look through the thick glass window on the door.
Gaara has to stand on his toes to do so but he did. As he peered into the room he saw nothing but a dark room with cold metal walls. But something in the corner caught his eye. Sphinx was sitting with her knees pulled close to her body in a corner, and her face and front facing the corner.
Gaara noticed blood on her arms and legs and some of her clothes and immediately became angered.
"Why is she in that room and covered in blood? What happened."
"Oh that's right you do not know... Well, come and sit. I will explain." Hikage said with a nod as she lead Black Jade and Gaara to a large couch. She let them sit and then sat down herself.
"Well, where to start. I'll just cut to the chase... Sphinx is somewhat insane. Not totally though."
"Insane? I've never noticed anything like that." Gaara said as he urged Hikage to continue.
"Well, she may seem normal, but every once in a while her insanity will emerge. During this streak of insanity the she will hunt down the person who has caused her the most pain in their life and torture them brutally, then kill them. That person is Nariko. I'm sure you are familiar with her." Gaara nodded, and Hikage nodded back.
"I... see... But why is she in that room?"
"To tell you the truth, I have to keep Sphinx under lock and key in that special room. For over a month probably, she's not safe around people at this moment." Gaara glared at Hikage. Oh if only looks could kill, then Gaara's glare would be able to kill one hundred skilled ninja.
"I want to see her."
"I'm afraid I cannot. That is not a safe choice."
"What did you not understand? I want to see Sphinx! Let me see her."
"Fine. It's your funeral."
"Hmph. Just hurry up and open the door." Hikage nodded then after unlocking several locks she opened the heavy metal door.
As soon as the door was open Gaara stepped in. Sphinx heard his footstep echo in the metal room, and she immediately shot up to her feet. She turned around and dashed at Gaara, a kunai in her hand.
Gaara's sand shot up to protect him but that wasn't necessary. Sphinx stopped inches before Gaara. Growling like a wild animal.
Gaara looked at sphinx's eyes. Hikage was right. Sphinx was insane. She had the eyes of a mad man. Also of anger and pain in them.
Suddenly Hikage from behind Gaara kicked Sphinx in the stomach, sending her flying into the metal wall. Sphinx coughed up some blood as Hikage grabbed Gaara and immediately closed the door and locked it.
"What the hell was that for?!"
"I'm sorry Gaara-sama. But though it didn't seem that way Sphinx was going to try and kill you. Or at least hurt you." From inside the room screaming was heard, and the sound of metal scraping on metal.
It was Sphinx from inside the room. Gaara realized, the extent of Sphinx's insanity. It was like his own but in a different form. Did Sphinx really suffer from such a horrible past to make her like this?
Or was she born with this insanity? It didn't seem right, it seemed like this insanity was forced onto her by something.
"Tell me when you release her. I will be in Sunagakure." Gaara commanded Hikage.
"As you wish Gaara-sama" And with that Gaara disappeared in a gust of sand and wind.