Black Roses666: Wow; 22 reviews for the 19th chapter? And I thought I would receive flames for making it sad…oh well, thanks to all those kind hearted people out there!
Frogbuddy: XDDD Yeah, it's highly amusing…
Kat: O.o thanks for pointing that out…
Mizuki39andrea: As I have said before: YOU PERVERTED FREAK!
Reiana: -pat- -pat- it's okay…
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CoolRiku: What do you mean by "sad enough"? Oh well…
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CryOfTheGhost: It's okay if you don't cry…
Animecrazy666: Well, you shall find out soon!
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YamiKitsuneKami: Thank you, thank you…I feel so praised…-tear-
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Lost Demon102: I just said that the next chapters are gonna be sad. I didn't say you have to cry, oh, and we had fun in Promenade, ne?
Becomingthis: Thanks a whole bunch!
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13thShadowKnight: it is a guaranteed happy ending or you may flame me all you want!
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Kira: Here's the update!
AzArGuRl: I rarely cry when I watch Oprah…but oh well. Good luck with the tears!
Darklight03: You shall see soon enough!
Suna-Tsuki-Koinu: Thankies!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
Warning: The next few chapters will be sad! (I'm gonna start putting this XD)
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Twentieth Dance:Promises
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It was midnight when Sabaku no Gaara decided it was about time he went home to rest and relax. He walked down to his humble abode, thinking on what he could talk to Olha about, especially after he gives his answer to her.
His answer was a yes (chapter 19 for explanation), and after he gives it to her, all would be happy for them both. He would no longer be alone, and she would no longer be so sad. They would simply be friends; and friends alone.
He knows that she would have to leave for Mist soon, but as long as they know that they are friends, it wouldn't matter.
Upon his arrival home, he scanned around the roof to check if she was waiting for him there. He immediately found himself frowning when he saw no sign of her, but then it disappeared when he remembered that he had the whole night to tell her. Finally, he can live a day with a small smile on his face (though I highly doubt that it could be seen), and unlike others, he would give anything for a day like that.
He was about to whip out his keys and open the door when it opened itself to reveal his older brother who seemed to look kind of depressed. Slightly cocking his head to the side, he saw Temari sitting on the couch, blowing her nose with a piece of tissue.
"Gaara…oh God…did Olha tell you…?" Kankurou asked, sounding quite alarmed.
"Tell me what…?" Gaara glanced from his brother to his sister as if one of them is going to attack him when he's not looking.
Kankurou turned to Temari who gave him a single nod.
"Olha's…leaving…um…tonight…"
Gaara's eyes snapped wide. This was not a part of his evening plan.
"What?" he hissed above whisper which sent shivers to the male opposite of him.
"She's leaving…she has a letter for you back at your office…" Temari came in, pushing her younger brother slightly to the side.
Gaara gave her a nod before disappearing in a swirl of sand.
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The two Mist siblings checked themselves at the front of the gate, making sure that they were prepared for their long run back to their home. Olha stared at the village of Sand, knowing perfectly well that what she is seeing is the last in a long time.
She faced the moon and stars, thanking them for coming out to greet her farewell. She knew that once she started running, there was no turning back; and if she stays, there's no doubt that her father would track her down.
This village was the best thing that ever happened to her, and she took her time thanking it for welcoming her with open arms. She looked at her brother who was glaring at the village for reasons she may never know, but will never care.
Olha looked down, suddenly finding interest on her feet as she remembered that she never got the chance to say goodbye to Gaara, of all people. She said goodbye to Jue, the bookstore clerk, and the family who gave her the clip she currently wore, but the Kazekage, she could not.
She was also depressed that she never got the answer to her question; she may never know if she leaves Sand with a secret friend, or a newly found foe.
Other than her worries, all that was left inside of her was complete emptiness, except the curse of fear going through her veins. Once she enters the gates of her home, she may never smile again. Sad, isn't it?
"Outcast; let's go already! I want to get away from this poor excuse of a village now!" Ur growled, glaring at every grain of sand that moved. Olha refused to reply, so the two left, running out of the Village of Sand, using chakra control to keep themselves above the sand.
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At the arrival of his office, Gaara walked up to his desk, trying to keep himself calm, and caught sight of a folded piece of paper on his desk. It was obviously the letter Temari told him about from Olha. He reached out and unfolded the note to see what was in store for him…
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Gaara,
When you get this letter, I'll probably be gone by then. I knew this would happen sooner or later…but I really didn't expect, nor did I think that Ur would make such a speedy recovery. Well, there is no need to be suspicious about him; there is something I need to tell you…
I've spilled all of those life long secrets to you on your rooftop, but to be honest, I didn't tell you everything. The truth is…much to my dismay…I will die soon. As you have seen, my willpower is already to its limit and I am not sure if I can stand up any longer to my father's consistent beatings.
This is why I asked you if you could…or would accept me as a friend. I needed to know if there was even a single soul out there who could accept me, but oh, how the gods hate me, I had to leave…
I can assure you; my stay in Sand was the happiest experience I've ever had…oops, sorry for using the past tense. Allow me to renew that statement: my stay in Sand is, was, and will forever be the happiest experience in my life.
I can't believe I'm saying this, and oh my, I'm writing it to you of all people; but I have to simply let this out. I was lost when I came to Suna. I had no life, nothing. No one acknowledged me…that is, until you found me. You recognized me as an equal, and for that, I am forever thankful. That is why I leave Suna as a 'found' person…
You, of all the humans in existence, saw me in a different perspective. You understood my feelings, reasons, and all of that crap. No good deed goes unrewarded, though I'm not sure if helping me was even a good deed. I hope for you to find a significant other to share your life with.
Before this piece of
paper runs out of space, I just want you to promise me some things.
Promise me that…if ever anything happens to me, you will carry out
the following tasks:
Kill my father, the Mizukage; protect your village from any harm that could come; and redeem your name.
As your reward, I promise you that, if I would still be alive though, I will come back to Suna and get your answer. I wish you the best in everything you do. I know you will eventually lead a good life.
For now, I have to say this, and it isn't easy…
Goodbye, Gaara.
Olha
P.S.: If in case I come back, can you smile for me? You look good when you smile…
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Gaara tightened his grip around the piece of paper; just a bit more and he could rip a hole through it. His hand shook violently as he read through the letter once again to make sure he doesn't have any eye deficiency. Without any further waiting, he once again disappeared in a whirl of sand and reappeared in front of the Suna gates.
'Maybe she hasn't left yet…maybe she managed to stall her brother…maybe-'
His thoughts were cut short when he laid his eyes on four sets of footprints, each on a running distance from the other. He stared at the prints wide eyed. He had just missed them! They only left, and that is the reason why the footprints were still there. The wind blew and the sand covered the prints, never to be seen by any other pair of eyes.
Gaara subconsciously clenched his fist where he held her letter. His hand started to shake violently as he resisted the urge to summon his Desert Avalanche and drown his village in it. He was angry…very angry…
He was angry at his mother for dying on him when he was born…
He was annoyed of his siblings for being too afraid to treat him like a normal brother…
He was irritated at his father for making him suffer…
He was fuming at Yashamaru for never giving him advice on having friends…
He was mad at the villagers for living happier and better lives than he could imagine…
He was furious at Olha for leaving him when he needed to talk to her the most…
Most of all, he was outraged at himself for not being able to tell the Mist girl his answer when he still had the chance to.
He loathed himself for being so blind. He didn't want to be friends with her because he may kill her when she lowers her defenses, but he was simply too blind to see that she would have a more excruciatingly painful death because they weren't friends.
"Gaara, you dolt…you've just tortured the last person who could be your friend…" he growled, staring off at the distance with a glare in his eyes.
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Olha let out a highly irritated sigh as she laid her eyes on her younger brother who was exhausted and sat down on the golden sand.
Her running became walking as she approached the side of her annoying brother.
"What, giving up already?" she mocked, knowing that she should cherish rare moments like these.
He scowled, looking away from her in fear that she would be able to see the humiliation in his eyes. He knows that she had gained the ability to know a person just by looking at his or her eyes.
"You should focus on keeping yourself above the sand rather than speed…" she continued, getting one of the chakra pills and giving it to her brother.
"I never asked you for any help, outcast. Since when did you care about my welfare?" he asked, grabbing the chakra pill from his older sister.
"Even though I want to kill you here and now, we're still siblings...well...sort of..." with that, she walked away, sitting a few feet away from him.
Olha rested her muscles, allowing herself to regain some chakra. By only instinct itself, she whipped out her light blue book to save her from the horrors of boredom. The moon and stars gave her a good deal of light to luminate the words.
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Her will was weak; her eyes lost its sparkle; her heart turned black. She was about to plunge into the dark abyss, and yet, she was somewhat eager. Nothing else mattered to her as she stared at what is to become of her. She couldn't care about her dark future knowing nothing of what the sandman was to tell her. She may never know…
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"Hey Gaara…has she left?" Kankurou asked. He sat on their porch, waiting for his younger brother's return; either because he wanted to see if his brother cried, or because he finally decided to be a good older brother for once (which was not likely).
Gaara stopped in front of him, watching his reaction as the red head stared down at him with those vicious eyes he was well known for. At the sight of his older brother's fear in his eyes, Gaara clenched his fist and punched Kankurou, placing all his anger and frustration into the punch. This caused Kankurou to fly until he hit the nearest pole.
"Don't talk to me…" the Kazekage growled, marching inside his home, giving glares to anything that moved. Temari made a smart move and stayed still until her youngest sibling disappeared into his room.
After hearing the door slam shut, she practically ran outside to the porch to find Kankurou nursing a swollen mark on his cheek. Temari immediately went to his side as a brother-sister instinct.
"Gaara?" she asked, obviously talking about the red mark.
"Yup…geez…what got him so worked up?"
"Olha's leave, most likely…"
"Yeah…so…? He shouldn't care…"
"It was probably because of the letter she gave him…"
"Maybe we should leave him alone for a while…that guy could give one mean punch…"
"Agreed…come on, let's get some ointment for that cheek of yours…"
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Gaara placed Olha's letter beside the toy raccoon she gave him. As he placed it there, he stared at the toy, thinking, what in the world did he do to receive such a gift?
He was so close to banging his fist on the stuffed animal when he remembered something. He grabbed the letter she gave him, unfolded it, and scrolled down, waiting for his eyes to catch a glimpse of a few certain words he accidentally missed out on. At last, he found it.
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Kill my father, the Mizukage; protect your village from any harm that could come; and redeem your name.
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'Kill, protect, redeem…was this…this is what she meant for me in her dream (chapter 15 and 16)…she knew that something horrible was going to happen to her and she's giving me her final will…
"Why me…?"
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Black Roses666: well; and so forth ends this chapter; hope you guys didn't cry at all, k? Okay, please review!