Author's note: Sorry for not updating sooner, but I have a specific reason for updating today. Someone requested I post this chapter on their birthday, which is today: 10-23-07. Happy Birthday Nami Ume! This chapter is dedicated to the day you were brought into this miserable world!
Hannah stood erect on the top of the Kazekage tower, staring up at the moon with a worried expression. "Are you sure?" she asked the moon, its pale blue light shining down on her. Apparently it was rooting her on tonight. "Okay," she sighed, exhaling deeply yet feeling no better. Those breathing exercises weren't worth crap with love situations.
Pallid Obscurity could remember, as her green-grey eyes became lost in the full moon, the quizilla quiz she had taken in a two year period when she felt she needed to discover who she was and be certain of it.
"You are the blue moonlight," the quiz told her, "You are peaceful and serene, kind and loving. Your heart never steers you wrong. You let out uncertainness with tears, and fear with light. The blue light means distance. You are afraid to get too close to people. You have been betrayed once before and can't do it again. You love humanity and loneliness. You will have love in your life and will never pass by unnoticed.
"Your beauty attracts many, but your personality is rare. The uniqueness in your mind will always separate you. You can always find yourself lingering near the ocean, thinking about life. Your head seems to be up in the clouds, though your body is down on Earth. You change each time and come back a better person. The blue moonlight will always guide you to safety in the darkest hour."
At least she hoped it would.
The Hime had made her decision and was sticking to it although she was shaking like a leaf during an autumn storm. Her legs were weak, rubbery, and her muscles felt wet as though they were sweating heavily. Her stomach had decided to stay back in her room while her heart was on overdrive.
Hannah tried to swallow but it felt like swallowing needles. It was nearly time. She thought of quiz results to boost her courage and confidence- the two things that she needed most that seemed to abandon her even before Gaara showed up.
"You are a deep thinker that just longs for love and only love."
"You like to hold your feelings inside."
"It's okay to step out of the crowd a bit and GO FOR IT!"
"You are one of the few out there whose wings are truly ANGELIC. Selfless, powerful, and divine, you are one blessed with a certain cosmic grace. You are unequalled in peacefulness, love, and beauty."
"You have strength and independence. Intelligence and creativity are your strong points and you always try your best."
Hannah felt her heart stop and freeze over instantly the moment Obsidian Luminosity appeared on the rooftop. Her mouth, if possible, became drier and her lips became stone. Pallid Obscurity felt as if she had looked a Gorgon in the face and her body was transforming into stone.
Resolve came crashing around her ears and piled into invisible rubble at her feet. I can't do it! I can't do it! I can't say it! I can't! I can't! I can't! The American felt a small spark of frustration, but it wasn't enough to free her from the spell fear had cast.
"You know who you are and you aren't afraid to show it!" a braver part of her screamed.
"Ohayo," she greeted him nervously and almost inaudibly.
"Konnichiwa," Ouji-sama returned somewhat tensely. Was he nervous too?
"You tend to shy away from people or events in fear of feelings as though no one will understand you, or simply because you can't seem to relate to others. You often walk with your head down, and isolate yourself as if to console and save your own soul from further torture."
Her head was definitely down now. In fact, it was almost so low her forehead could have hit a rock. Yeah, a rock…to crawl and die in shame under. That sounded like a pleasant alternative.
"No!" screamed the braver part she recognized as courage. "You're not running away this time! I won't allow you! Speak, fool! While you have the chance! Tell him! Tell him, chikusho (damn it)!"
"Remember that time I called you a Tenshi?" the Kazekage asked quietly.
Tenshi. It meant angel. The Hime-sama nodded, blushing and wanting to crawl under an appealing boulder but her feet were cemented down by invisible blocks. "I remember," she croaked and cleared her throat.
"Remember the signs on your hands? Seikou? Shouri?" He began to advance toward her slowly as if he were approaching a rabbit ready to bolt or trying to catch a nervous doe. Hannah leapt backwards into the streets, afraid of what he would say next. He pursued.
Sand pinned the lower half of her body to a wall in a dark alleyway- the alley the Seven had attacked her in. Such fond memories. How did she end up returning here? The red head stopped before her and held her head gently, caressing her cheeks soothingly.
Hannah shivered involuntarily. "All that you truly desire is for someone to understand you and want to be around you because they want to, and not because they have to."
Gaara leaned forward and tilted his head sideways; Hannah complied by shifting her head the opposite way and bending forward. Their lips met perfectly although shyly. It was almost as though both had kissed a million times.
The paralyzing fear was gently swept away by a warm wave of warmth pooling in the Hime's body. The sand that trapped her arms and to her stomach helped her resist animalistic impulses. She wanted to moan. It felt…right. So right. The rightest thing in the world, the universe.
Even though it wasn't her first kiss, it felt as though it should have been- it was nothing short of perfect. It was encouraging, gentle prodding, preparing, assurance. Hannah felt laid back yet wired at the same time. "You don't necessarily long for acceptance, you're just waiting for something good to happen to you;"
They pulled back at the same time, both flushing lightly and glancing away from the other because neither regretted the kiss. Hannah stared at the ground fondly with a small, happy smile; Gaara focused on a nearby shadowed wall with a slight smirk.
"I feel so…violated," Pallid Obscurity teased, giggling. "Do it again!"
Obsidian Luminosity shot her an amused half-smile. "Later."
The Hime-sama sensed the thing the Kazekage kept holding back. "What?" she asked, cocking her head in a puppyish manner.
Gaara looked uncomfortable for a moment and Hannah's heart seemed to stop. Whatever he was going to say next would alter their lives forever. "-something that will act as a sanction and will rid you of the everlasting pain that lurks pitifully at the bottom of your heart and mind."
"Hannah, do you love me?"