A/N: Wow... this is getting intense! And Gaara's so mean to her... jeez...
Gaara: I am only looking out for her.
Really. I know you, and you aren't. In fact, I've been you, and you just want her for yourself, huh?!!
*Gaara leaves*
Wow... yeah, anyways, I hope you guys like this chapter!
Also, this is what the priest from the Kami shrine told her:
Apparently, when a living thing dies, a sort of energy, or part of the soul, leaves the 'shell', or the body, and travels to a different plane. There are seven planes, and humans in their sleep can communicate with the sixth and fifth plane. The sixth is the demon plane. Sometimes, when someone with regrets, or mistakes dies and doesn't want to repent, or doesn't believe, or wants to watch over someone else, they become a part demon. Half dead, half demon, half ghost, and they haunt someone. Commonly the center of their regrets.
Like her, for her brother, most likely.
P.s.
Should I bring in her little sister...?
Chapter Fourteen:
Children
Kairi stood in the forest, the blood lake glistening out of the corner of her eyes. She looked down at herself. She wore the white kimono, but there were bloody handprints on it. Her brother stepped out of the woods.
"Kassandra... You seem upset, what is it?" He asked softly. She whimpered, looking away and collapsing to her knees. He was before her in an instant, his hot hands under her throat, making her face him. He kneeled in front of her, taking her hands and pressing his forehead to hers.
"Tell me. You can tell me anything," he whispered. She met his eyes and nodded slightly, wrapping her arms around her body. It was a strange sensation. He was there... but she couldn't feel him, but she couldn't put her arms through him...
"Kankuro... he's leaving... I just... I fought so hard just to see him everyday... and he just leaves..." Kairi closed her eyes tightly, sobs wracking her body. She thought she couldn't hurt anymore, but the pain was there, and icily intense. Her brothers arms went around her waist, but she couldn't feel it... she wanted someone she could feel touch her, but the imaginary sense of her brother there... the same feeling she had when she was younger and he'd protect her... it was peaceful. Her crying stopped eventually.
"Sister, I have a memory for you."
Kairi nodded, and she suddenly felt herself drenched in water, struggling towards the surface, gasping for air, only to swallow water. A disgusting chemical taste filled her throat and she struggled upwards. She broke surface and took in air. She dunked someone beneath the surface, and came back up.
A hand wrapped around her waist, and yanked her deeper under water. She struggled, and finally, she gave up with trying to reach the surface, and looked at who was holding her down. A young boys features faced hers. It was her best friend, Shika... His curly brown hair, and foresty eyes were drooping.
Kairi felt a tightening pain in her chest. She felt like she loved this man... and she noticed he looked asleep, and peaceful. His eyes were closed, and his features gentle. He floated underneath the water as her eyes blurred. She swam down towards him, feeling sick to her stomach, but wrapped her arms around him and tried to yank him up. She looked down his body. His legs were jammed in a metal ladder underneath the water. Her eyes widened and she yanked him free, pulling him to the surface. A girl dressed in red and white ran over, and Exene, Kairi's other best friend, wrapped her arms around a frantic Kairi, holding her back.
The lifegaurd stood up, shaking her head, and told everyone to leave the pool. It was closed. Someone had died.
Kairi's first love had died.
Kairi came out of the memory, back in the forest, shaking and shivvering in fear, and cold. Her entire body was drenched in blood, and the lake seemed fuller. The blood was a bright red, fresh.
"Do you know what this lake represents, Kassandra?" Her brother asked.
Kairi shook her head, tears were streaming down her cheeks. She looked down at her chest. A hole was eating itself out. She whimpered, pulled up her yukata's sleeve, and wiped her tears on her arm. She pulled back and her arm was stained in blood.
She was crying blood, and the thought made her cry harder.
She really was a monster.
Her brother reached towards her, and she stepped away, as far away as she possibly could. She stumbled backwards, and hit the ground. Her brother had a hurt look, but he seemed to understand.
"Please answer my question, Kassandra."
"No... I dont." she murmured, trying not to hyperventilate or sob anymore. He smiled sadly.
"That lake, in a land in the plane of demons is known as the lake of dreams. It's my domain, my home. Do you know why I chose it?"
Kairi shook her head.
"Because that lake is filled with the blood and guilt on others hands, specifically, your hands. Every drop of blood in there is a regret of yours, an injury you've caused, someone you think you've killed... someone you have killed. The hole in your chest is real, Kassandra. It represents the pain and emotional torture you go through, what your childhood, your present, and your future will cause, what it has done to you. It represents love. This forest represents you in general, the darkness to show your cinicallity, the coldness to represent your strength. The blood on you to represent the tainted innocence you wear on your sleeves. This place represents you and your sister."
"If... If you know so much about me, then who are you? What is my darling brothers name?" Kairi growled, tears still streaming down her cheeks, hardening in caked blood.
"I'll tell you soon... but you must take a walk with me, Kairi. Just take a walk." Kairi nodded. She got to her feet, and started to walk beside him. He reached for her, and took her hand.
Suddenly, bright white sparks flew around them. They were blurry.
"They're from the fifth plane, Kassandra..." Her brother whispered in her ear. She stared in awe, enraptured in the glamour of the beautiful, tiny, blurry creatures.
The largest of all the little creatures appeared before Kairi, and she saw the slightest flutter of white feathers dancing with electricity.
"Little tiny angels dance along,
moving to the heart of our broken song," The Angel hummed.
Kairi's brother squeazed her hand and led her deeper into the woods untils he could no longer hear anything besides the soft, musical hum of the Angels'. Soon, the trees started to thin, but her brother pulled away sharply, staring at Kairi in horror.
The yukata had turned dried crimson, but the hole in Kairi's chest had ice forming around it. Kairi felt deathly cold, but she didn't shivver, she didn't even care. The cold spread around her feet, turning the dark green grass frozen and sharp like blades. It emanated in an aura around her.
"Listen closely child,
and remember well,
when snow has died,
all is well."
The little angels were sparking, trying to get inside the shield, but the ice shot out in a shield around Kairi, one tiny body fell to the ground, engulfed in blue flame, ashes in the grass.
Kairi shot up straight in her bed, panting, gasping for air, trembling, a scream in her throat. She was crying and sobbing hopelessly. The door slammed open, and Kankuro, about ready to leave, just pulling on a shoe, stood there. He rushed to the side of her bed, reaching to pull her into a hug, his bare fingers touched her collar bone. He winced, pulling back sharply. His features were terrified.
"Kairi... you're colder than dry ice..." He whispered. Suddenly, Kairi felt a fire burn through her vains, and she reached out to take Kankuro's shaking hand. He sighed. "Did I just imagine that...?" But the ice burn on his fingers spoke a different story. Kairi pulled herself against him, crying.
X.x.X.x.X
"So where are you going...?" Kairi asked ten minutes later. She was sitting in her bed, snuggling into Kankuro's lap. He rested his chin on her shoulder, hands folded over her stomach. His breath was cold against her neck, and she could hear his heart beat inside his chest.
"The Land of Waves..."
"What's the mission?"
"The war general Inari, an old friend of Naruto's, requested Sunagakure's assistance with training troops. Kirigakure is holding out a battlement on the Great Naruto Bridge..."
"Great Naruto Bridge?"
"Yeah. That's where he defeated that old punk Gato, didn't he tell you that story?"
"He never said they named the bridge after him... wow, he's popular."
"That's Naruto for you..."
"But wait, can't you be killed?"
"Easily." Kankuro shrugged, completely nonchallant. Kairi shot up straight, breaking free of his arms and turning to face him.
"Don't you care?!!" She whispered harshly. They were trying to avoid alerting Gaara that Kankuro hadn't left yet. "Don't you care that you could die?!"
"Not if I am doing a mission. Kairi, I resigned myself to die when I joined the ninja academy a year before Gaara... If I am serving my village, I have no other wish..."
"None?" Kankuro looked away, got up off of the bed and went to the door.
"I have to leave for my mission, Kassandra," he murmured before going out the door before Kairi had a chance to react.
X.x.X.x.X
Kairi sat in the large kitchen of the kazekage manor. To keep herself occupied, she studied the room.
The floor was an unpolished dark brown marble. The cabinets were red-stained cherry wood, the counters the same marble as the floor. The kitchen was huge, with stainless steel trashcompactor, double ovens, a stove, large double sink, fridge, freezer, and dishwasher. There was an island in the center with red-stained cherrywood stools. Eight of them in total, four on each side. On the islands center was a bowl of water plants. The walls were painted a warm auburn brown, and the cubbards and drawers and fridge and freezer were stocked with all food imaginable, some from other lands.
Kankuro had left four hours ago, Kairi refused to speak to Gaara still. She hated him right now... but Kankuro wasn't her favorite either. Earlier, as he was about to leave... she wanted to kiss him. But he somehow knew her name. What else did he know about her? Did he read her journal and think she's crazy? Think she's lying about who she is?
She shook her head. If he did think those things, he hadn't told Gaara, and he was no longer her problem anymore. She couldn't handle those things when it felt like her heart was being torn from her chest over the thought of him dying. A tear leaked down the side of her face, but she wiped it away and hopped down off the counter and to her feet. She started cooking lunches.
By the time she was done cooking, music was blasting at the highest possible volume throughout the room. The door was shut tightly, and locked. The kitchen was a mess.
So far, the radio had played: It ends tonight by All American Rejects, Everybodies fool by Evanescence, Evil Angel by Breaking Benjamin, Fences by Paramore, Pain by Three Days Grace, Chop Suey by System of a Down, Bleed it out by Linkin Park, I'm not okay by My Chemical Romance, Far away by Nickelback.
She had also packed forty-five lunches in bentoboxes. There were nine different styles of lunches. One of them had waterfruit, with a bottle of water, a pork onigiri and a small chocolate bar. The second had a small pudding cup, a bottle of juice, chopped up carrots and ranch, and a teriyaki ricebowl. The others each had different kinds of ramen, with waterfruit, chips, and bottle water. With a sigh, regretting the clean-up job she would have to do, and also relishing in the thought of doing that, she opened up the kitchen door and started piling the make-shift bento boxes on a small cart she had found in the closet. She quickly made a jug of chocolate milk and drank some before putting it on the top.
"It's been to long, my friend," she murmured, huggling the jug. She would have to go grocery shopping later.
"Kairi-chan? What are you doing with those?" Temari asked in confusion as she walked down the hall, hips swinging with each step. She peaked around Kairi before she could stop her, and let out a shriek at what was in the kitchen, the music muffling it barely.
"I AM NOT CLEANING THAT UP!!!!" She screamed. Kairi clamped a hand over Temari's mouth, shushing her wildly.
"Great Kami woman, calm down. You'll terrify the whole household." Temari glared and nodded, stepping back.
"So?" She growled, waiting for her explanation that she felt entitled to. She was.
"I made lunches for the academy students. No, you won't have to clean anything up. Since I'm done with my training with Gaara-sensei, I'll have more time to clean."
"Really? I would've thought you'd spend your time stalking Kankuro now." Kairi stiffened. Didn't the woman know?!!
"Temari-san, Kankuro is out on a twelve-month mission assigned to him by the Kazekage to help lead a war against Kirigakure." Temari stiffened. "Talk to Gaara for the details."
"Oh you bet I'll talk to that selfish bastard, he's goin' down! LITTLE BROTHER GET YOUR STUPID FORSAKEN ASS DOWN HERE THIS MINUTE!!! Have fun with the academy students. I might come by after I'm done talking to Gaara."
"Allright. Leave a scar for me, allright?" Temari smiled.
"I'll try."
Kairi then grabbed the handle of the cart, and started pulling it from the mansion. The academy was only two blocks from the mansion. She was in front of the school in no-time, dressed in her casual clothes.
AKA, she had locked Kankuro's ninja clothing in the bottom of her dresser in her room to hide from. She was now wearing black shorts, a white tanktop and a black tie with green paint splatters and a green headband. She had her trusty wallet tucked in her studded belt. Her kunai pouch was around her leg, she could still barely use it, but she needed some amount of a defense, since her taijutsu wasn't very good.
She walked into the academy's main building, a tall round sandstone building with the village and academy symbol intertwined on the sign on the front. Kairi walked up to the first classroom, and poked her head inside. A large class of small children, about six years old, were going over their morning and night training regimens. The sensei was checking each one off, going to each student.
The sensei was a tall man with short-cropped brown hair, his headband around his forehead. His left eye was mottled by a long scar, unable to open, and his right eye was a bright, gentle green. He was tall, and wore a chunin vest over the traditional black spandex suit. He turned around in surprise at the sound, his face annoyed as if he expected someone to come in late, but he furrowed his brow in confusion at the sight of Kairi.
He tensed, hand going towards his kunai pouch. Kairi smiled sheepishly, flashing her headband at him, which was wrapped around her ankle, and smiled.
"May I speak to you for a second?" Kairi asked. The entire class froze and looked to her. Immediately whispers started up, besides a group of four silent, glaring kids. Kairi bit her lower lip but ignored them.
The sensei nodded.
"Finish going over your schedule with your partner, make some adjustments for the next week, and I'll be back in a minute. Zero-san, please make sure they behave." A strong, confident looking boy nodded. Kairi grinned, and stepped out of the classroom. The teacher nodded respectfully to her, and Kairi bowed as a genin of her status should.
"My name is Kairi Sacrow, I'm staying up in the kazekage mansion and I got bored and cooked a bunch... I actually made around 45 lunches... do you mind if I give them to the kids?" The teacher smiled faintly.
"Not at all. I am Koneko." Kairi grinned.
"Arigatou, Koneko-sensei!" Kairi said sweetly, smiling from ear to ear. His name meant Mr. Kitty. "So how many students in this class?"
"Fifteen." He said evenly. He didn't even have to think.
"Is there fifteen in every class?"
"Yes, but this one is missing two. There are three classes."
"Oh, well that's perfect. Would you like some lunch yourself?" He nodded, and Kairi handed him a ramen one. He took it with a grateful remark and walked in the class, gesturing her in.
"Class, we have a special visitor today." He announced, and the rowdy class went silent and behaved in an instant. He set his lunch on his desk on the raised section, and gestured for Kairi to stand beside him. She bowed deeply.
"Ohayoo gozaimasu, gaki." Good morning, kids. "Watashi wa Sacrow Kairi desu." My name is Kairi Sacrow. "Watashi wa genin no Sunagakure desu." I am a genin of the village hidden in the sand. "Watashi wa iie wa kazekage manoru." My home is the Kazekage manor.
Kairi smiled as she introduced herself. A kid raised her hand.
"Speak." Koneko said calmly. He seemed a very peaceful man.
"How come you're dressed like that and how come you live there and how come you didn't have to go to the academy like us?!!" She asked rudely. Kairi winced.
"I'm dressed like this because I am currently without a sensei and without work. My sensei hates my guts, and I hate his. I live there because the kazekage's brother, Kankuro-san," Kairi frowned at the name, "requested it after he rescued me." Yes, Kairi did see it as the boy rescuing her. "And I was under a deal with the kazekage. He put me through his hardest training." The class gaped.
"Wow! Kairi-sensei you're awesome!" One kid shouted. Koneko smiled slightly.
"It seems they like you. Would you like to train with me?"
"I couldn't ask that of you!" Kairi said, agape as she turned to face him.
"Then how about you help me with my classes and I'll train you in thanks." Kairi grinned and nodded.
"Now class, Kairi made us all lunch, so would someone go get the other three classes off of the training field and playground so we can eat?" The little girl raised her hand, and with a nod from Koneko raced out of the room. Kairi then began passing out the lunches to the other students, leaving one on the girls classes. As she was placing one on one of the dark boys' desks, he grabbed her injured wrist, which was still healing, and she winced, pulling back and biting her lip.
"Ouch. What?" She growled. The boy narrowed his eyes.
"Why does the kazekage care about someone as weak as you?!!" He growled back in response. Suddenly, he was smacked in the back of the head by Koneko.
"Kashiko, watch your mouth! An injury is an injury, and I distinctly remember you crying about twisting your ankle the other day!" The boy flushed and angrily started eating his lunch. Kairi was setting her lunch down in front of the girl who had left the class, when she took a seat, the other kids spilling into the room.
"Watashi wa Kage Maki." My name is Maki.
"Ohayoo, Maki-san." Kairi said kindly.
"Those boys over there, they're Kashiko Monozu, Zero konn, Gaki Shonotsu and Zakufu Hachii. they're jerks, but the best, and also the most dangerous." Kairi nodded her understanding.
Two hours later, all of the food had been finished off, and kids were asking her questions.
X.x.X.x.X
A/N: Well, I hope you guys liked this chapter. First of all, though, I want to clarify and thank some people for some things.
One) Kankuro likes her alot, in fact he loves her, but he also loves his brother, and knows Gaara loves her, so he's willing to leave her.
Two) I'm writing this in my version of what the shinobi way is for each of these people.
Three) Her brother is a gaurdian demon, which I got from my nicname at school. I based off the whole brother visiting her from a Vampire Knight fanfiction by Suntiger. It's called Stargazer, and is really good, but I also based it off of the fact that when I was in kindergarten, before my mom had told me about my dead older brother, I had told people I was talking to my brother.
Four) The lullaby, I haven't typed all of it in this story, but I wrote it for a roleplay on a long time ago and found it really good.
Five) Her element is ice, if you haven't figured it out yet.
Five)Thanks cheeky half-demon for the reviews... let me know which type of one-shot you want, because I like your name idea.
Six) I listened to Prince of Darkness by Alice in Chains while writing this chapter, as well as the songs listed that the radio played in the story. I like the song Prince of Darkness and it fits the story.
Seven) The entire time I've been writing this, I've based Gaara off of my friend Kyle, and how he acts around this girl he likes.
Eight) Sorry, I know I'm rambling, but soon I will be posting some Kairi/Gaara and Kairi/Kankuro one-shots... This is the last note.
Nine) Or not. This is the last one. Narutogirl13, thanks for the reviews, and I'm glad you've got your account set up. Let me know if you write anything or need a beta. Enjoy , girl.
Gaara: Did it take you long enough?
Kairi: I HATE YOU!!!!!