Chapter Thirteen: A Child

Only two days had passed by and Gaara had shown up at Hikage's place again.

"How is she?"

"Compared to two days ago she has improved greatly. At this rate she should be ready to return to you within a month's time." Hikage nodded at Gaara. Hikage could tell Gaara was happy to hear that news tough his face remained as emotionless as it normally was.

"I want to see her."

"Yes, Gaara-san." Hikage nodded then opened the door, allowing Gaara to enter. Hikage then closed the door, actually leaving it slightly ajar.

Gaara looked at Sphinx from across the room. She was standing facing the metal wall. She lifted up a hand and ran her fingers across the rather deep scratch marks made by her.

Gaara took a step forward, which made Sphinx quickly turned her head while throwing a shuriken.

Gaara's sand shot up and caught the shuriken, making it fall to the metal floor. The cold clang rang out through the room for a few seconds.

The two ninja's stared at each other for a while. Each giving the other a glare of daggers. Or at least that's what Sphinx was doing. It was almost like she didn't even remember who Gaara was at that moment.

The two probably stood in place for 30 minutes, before Gaara finally turned and left. Immediately walking up to Hikage who was now talking to Black Jade who had just arrived.

"Why is she acting that way towards me?" Gaara asked Hikage. Who answered.

"She acts that way towards everyone when she's in that metal state."

"But why? She acts like she doesn't even know who I am."

"Well-"

"Has her memory been altered or something?!"

"No, no, Gaara-san. She still has every last memory she can tap into. But because of her mental state she has trouble recognizing a person from an enemy or a friend. Despite her memories on that person... Let me rephrase that. It's more like she can't recognize a person as a friend or foe because she sees her memories as a garbled mess. They're still there in one piece but her state of mind can't probably comprehend those memories. Get what I'm saying?"

"Hai... I'll be back later this week." And with that began Gaara's visits. He visited twice, sometimes three times a week. Slowly watching Sphinx recover. But during his second visit of the third week Gaara actually saw another side of Sphinx he had never seen before.

"Hikage. Why is Sphinx acting like that?"

"It's just part of her recovery stage. For some reason while her mind recovers and becomes normal once more her mental state starts becoming what it was during her childhood."

"She told me a little bit about her past. But was it really that bad? You saw how she reacted when I walked in there."

"I know Gaara-san. It's somewhat sad. But it means she's making a healthy recovery."

"I don't see how you can call that a healthy recovery."

"It may seem strange Gaara-san, but that's just how she works." Gaara turned then opened the door, re-entering the metal room.

Immediately Sphinx recoiled into a feetal position and whined like a scared little girl. Gaara walked toward her, and Sphinx scooted as far as she could into the corner. Gaara stopped and bent down next to her.

Sphinx's body flinched as if waiting for some heavy blow.

"Please don't hit me!" She cried out.

"Nani? Why would I do the-"

"I didn't mean to do it! I promise. Please don't make it hurt."

"N-nani? What did you do?"

"I always do something wrong. Ka-san says I am a bad girl who can not do anything right."

"And you believe her?"

"Why else would she punish me so? She says I am bad, and she is right." Gaara was a bit confused and didn't know how to react. He wasn't for sure if or how to comfort Sphinx.

Gaara sighed very slightly and quietly then lightly put his hands on Sphinx's shoulders, and made her look at him.

"You aren't a bad child. Don't listen to your ka-san. Just trust me on this. You aren't in trouble and you haven't done anything wrong." There was a moment of silence. Suddenly Gaara felt a tug on his sash.

His eyes looked down and he saw Sphinx was playing with the sash. Gaara actually blushed very slightly, despite he knew that Sphinx was only acting like a little child.

"You know who I am Sphinx?"

"Of course I do. You're Sabaku no Gaara-sama. I hear ka-san and the other adults speak ill of you often. But with my experiences you aren't as bad as they all said."

"You still remember everything we've done?"

"Of course I do. Un un. Where do you think they'd go?" Sphinx said with her child like smile. Gaara seemed to be softened by that smile and couldn't help but smile very slightly as well.

At least one month and two weeks of this passed by since Sphinx was first placed in solitary confinement. And Gaara was visiting once again.

"What do you mean she's not ready to be taken back?" Gaara almost yelled furiously as Hikage.

"Now, now Gaara-san. I know it's been far over a month. But I can't let Sphinx go just yet."

"Why not?"

At this moment she isn't totally dangerous, but would need a lot of close watch and lots of care. And also I can't risk anyone sneaking up on her at all. That may trigger her unstable state of mind once more."

"Na-" Gaara words were cut off by a slam. Nariko had stormed into the room. Hikage's gaze shifted as she watches Nariko limp across the room.

She opened the metal door and walked into the metal room. She slowly limped over to Sphinx.

"I am falling, I am fading, I have lost it all, help me to-" Sphinx immediately ended her song and looked at Nariko. Fear appeared in her eyes.

Gaara's sand emerged from his gourd but Hikage moved her arm in front of him. A signal to remain still. Gaara hesitated but the sand retreated.

Suddenly the moment of silence between mother and unloved daughter was over. Nariko lifted her good arm and punched Sphinx in the cheek. Sending her back into the wall and down onto the ground. Immediately Nariko picked Sphinx up by her hair and slammed her into the wall. All of which she did within two seconds.

A sickly thud was heard that also filled the room. Nariko was about to continue, when Hikage grabbed Nariko.

"Get out of here! You know slaughter like that is not allowed!!" Hikage yelled while she threw Nariko out of the room and into the other, next to Gaara.

Nariko looked up to meet the face of a really pissed Gaara. Immediately Nariko teleported out of the room. Gaara growled angrily then turned and started for the other room.

But as he neared it he smelled a very familiar raw smell in the air. Gaara then quickened his pace and tore into the metal room.

A pool of crimson blood poured out onto the floor. Some blood was splattered on the wall where Sphinx was slammed into. It slid down and onto the floor, leaving a red trail.

Hikage was standing in the pool of the blood. Peering down at Sphinx, who was face flat on the ground. This… was her blood...

And Hikage was as calm as could be!