Chapter 25: A Nightmare Before A Nightmare
Gaara woke up to find himself alone in an empty Roman style arena. As he looked at the roof, he observed that it was raining.
"Where am I?" asked Gaara to no one in particular.
"We're at the place of your soon coming death." cackled a sadistic voice.
Gaara turned around to see Seiriyu enter the arena through one of its many doors, the sadistic smile of his ever present on his face.
"Is this the battlefield for our duel?" asked Gaara as he observed the ruthless dictator as he walked around Gaara like a tiger would stalk its prey.
"Indeed it is Gaara-san and to make sure you have extra motivation for this fight, take a look behind you." commanded Seiriyu as he pointed at Gaara.
"What did you do?" asked Gaara in a cold tone.
"Why don't you see for yourself?" answered Seiriyu with his own question.
Gaara didn't answer, but instead turned around. An instant face of horror appeared across Gaara's face as he saw Daisuke, Kankuro, Temari, and Ryu all chained up against the eastern wall of the arena, blood flowing from numerous cuts and wounds around their bodies.
"What the hell did you do to them!?" exclaimed Gaara as he turned his enraged glare at the evil dictator.
"Don't worry. They are still alive, for now. I have only wounded them to a point that they can't interfere with our match." answered Seiriyu as he gave Gaara a nonchalant shrug.
Gaara turned his attention back to his companions, now realizing that one person was not among them.
"Finally realized that the Sage isn't with them huh?" asked Seiriyu with a smirk.
Gaara turned his attention back on the cruel dictator, a murderous glare sent right his way.
"If you have laid one finger on her-" Gaara started to say, but Seiriyu cut him off.
"Don't worry. I want to take the Sage from you in one piece. She hasn't been harmed." answered Seiriyu as he looked at the roof.
Gaara followed his gaze and a look of surprise and horror appeared across his face. He looked to see an unconscious Izuka being hung from her wrists from the center of the roof. True to his word, Izuka appeared unharmed.
Gaara looked back at Seiriyu to see that he wasn't where he was.
"Where is that bastard?" asked Gaara to himself.
"Behind you."
Gaara turned around in time to receive a swift slash from Seiriyu. Gaara crumpled to the ground holding his chest, where a large red mark appeared, blood gushing out of the grievous wound and mixing with his sand armor. Gaara looked up and observed Seiriyu's weapon.
"What kind of blade is that?" Gaara panted as he winced at the pain his wound caused him every time he breathed.
"Oh this?" asked Seiriyu as he lifted his pure black blade up in front of his face. "This kind of blade is the one that makes sure that no one survives it once they see it."
Seiryu lifted the blade above his head and swung it down for the final strike. Gaara closed his eyes waiting for his end to come.
"Ahhh!" exclaimed Gaara as he sat up abruptly on his bed and placed his hand on his forehead. He placed his hand on his chest to feel that the wound Seiriyu dealt him wasn't ther.
"It was just a nightmare." sighed Gaara as he looked around the room. He tensed as he heard a light knocking sound eminate from his room door.
"Gaara, it's me." says the voice from behind the door.
Recognizing the voice, Gaara relaxed, slightly. "Come on in Izzy."
Izuka opened the door and walked into the room, dressed in her ninja clothes. Gaara gave her a look of surprise.
"You usually don't get dressed this early." said Gaara as he gave his girlfriend a curious look.
"Gaara, it's five in the afternoon." answered Izuka flatly as she sat next to him on the bed.
"It is?" asked Gaara in surprise.
"See for yourself." said Izuka as she pointed to the digital clock on the nearby dresser. Gaara turned to see the clock show 3:05 p.m. on its small screen.
"Wow, I definitely slept in this time." commented Gaara as he looked back at Izuka.
"Temari thought it would be better to let you sleep in. You know, so you can be well rested for tonight's duel." said Izuka as she gave Gaara a curious look.
"Do I have something on my face?" asked Gaara as he observed Izuka, who was curiously staring at his face.
"Did you just wake up from a nightmare?" asked Izuka bluntly as she stared at Gaara right in the eye.
Gaara widened his eyes at the question. "How'd you guess?"
"One, you're sweating and you usually don't sweat when you wake up. And two, you've had this defeated and frightened look on your face ever since I came into the room. What's wrong Gaara?" asked Izuka as she gave Gaara a concerned look
Gaara let out a sigh, knowing that if he didn't answer her, she'll use her telepathic powers to look through his mind to see what's wrong.
"You're right. I did have a nightmare." answered Gaara in a defeated tone.
"Do you want to talk about it?" asked Izuka.
"Do you really want to hear it?" asked Gaara in return.
Izuka nodded yes for her answer. Gaara nodded his head in return and opened his arms. Taking that as a symbol to come closer to him, Izuka moved closer to Gaara until he wrapped his arms around her body in a close embrace.
"I was in an arena. Seiriyu walked into the arena and told me to turn around to see my extra motivation for the duel. When I turned around, I instantly regretted it."
"Why?" asked Izuka as she rested her hooded head on Gaara's shoulder.
"I saw Temari, Kankuro, Daisuke, and Ryu chained to the arena wall. They were covered in these painful cuts and bruises and their blood was just pouring out of them." answered Gaara as he closed his eyes.
Izuka's body stiffened as she listened to the details of Gaara's horrible dream.
"Do you want me to continue?" asked Gaara all of a sudden.
"I want to hear all of it." said Izuka in a slightly shaky, but determined voice. "What about me? Where was I when this happened?"
"You were hanging from the center of the roof from your wrists. You were unconscious, but you appeared unhurt as well."
"Why me?" asked Izuka.
"Seiriyu wanted to take you away from me in one piece. That's why he didn't hurt you." answered Gaara flatly.
"I see. What else?" asked Izuka as she looked at Gaara's face, where an agitated look appeared across his features.
"When I turned my attention back on Seiriyu, he was gone. He appeared right behind me and before I could react, he had cut me right across my chest with a black blade. I fell to the ground and waited for his final strike. The next thing I knew, I was here in my room."
"That's it?" asked Izuka.
"That's it." answered Gaara. He let go of Izuka, got off of his bed, grabbed his clothes, and walked into the bathroom. He emerged 20 minutes later dressed in his usual ninja outfit, long red coat and all.
"Are you going to tell the others about it?" asked Izuka as she got up from the bed and walked over to the young redhead.
"No; it's best not to worry them." answered Gaara as he looked out the window.
Izuka placed a firm hand on Gaara's shoulder. "It was just a nightmare Gaara. You shouldn't let it get to you."
"I know that, but it felt so real." answered Gaara solemnly as he continued to look out the window at the city that was trapped in a never ending rainstorm.
"It felt real because you made it feel real. Don't think about the possibilities of the outcome in the future. Focus on the here and now and always keep a clear and steady head." advised Izuka as she hugged Gaara from behind.
"Thank you for the advice, Izzy." said Gaara as he placed his hand on one of Izuka's own as it rested on Gaara's shoulder.
"You're welcome and can you please for the hundredth time stop calling me Izzy?" asked Izuka in an incredulous tone.
"Sorry; I seriously need to remember that you seriously dislike it when people call you Izzy." said Gaara apologetically.
"No worries, just try not to do it again." said Izuka as she released Gaara from her embrace.
Izuka was about to walk out of the room when she suddenly felt her hand being tugged. She turned back to Gaara, who was firmly gripping her hand.
"Wait a second Izuka." said Gaara as he let a suspicious look appear on his face.
"What is it Gaara?" asked Izuka as she eyed him curiously.
"Do you get the feeling we're being watched?" asked Gaara as he looked around the room.
"Now that you mention it, I had this nagging feeling that someone was watching us." said Izuka as she placed her hand on her chin. Her attention suddenly went to one of the ceiling corners of the room where one of the room lights were.
"Found something?" asked Gaara as he observed the room light Izuka was looking at.
"I think I did." answered Izuka as she walked over to the corner.
Izuka used her telepathy to levitate herself up to the room light. After giving it a closer look, she reached behind the light and felt around behind it until she felt a strange metallic object. She took it out from behind the light to reveal that it was a small spy camera.
"Those bastards been watching us this whole time!" exclaimed Izuka as she floated over to the other light fixtures, finding small spy cameras behind them as well.
"Apparently, they have never heard of the word privacy." said Gaara as he walked over to Izuka who finally landed back onto the floor.
"They must have these planted all over the suite." said Izuka as she dropped the cameras on to Gaara's bed.
"They've achieved a new low." said Gaara bluntly as he picked up one of the spy cameras and studied it.
Izuka nodded her head in agreement when she suddenly blushed bright pink.
"Uhm Gaara?" asked Izuka to get his attention.
"What is it Izuka? And why have you suddenly blushed bright pink?" asked Gaara as he raised an invisible eyebrow.
"Gaara, if they have been watching us since we first came to this suite, then they saw us make out last night." said Izuka as she blushed a deeper shade of pink.
Gaara widened his eyes in realization.
"And I thought Kankuro was bad enough." said Gaara as he too blushed a shade of pink.
"Someone mentioned my name?" asked Kankuro as he suddenly popped his head through the door. He was followed by Ryu and Temari. Their attention instantly went to the spy cameras.
"Don't tell me that psycho Seiriyu and his cronies have been spying on us since we've been staying in this suite!" said an incredulous Ryu.
Everyone nodded their heads yes.
"I so wanna kill that psycho!" said Ryu bluntly as she flew out the room.
"We all do!" called Kankuro after the dragon.
"Now what?" asked Temari as she looked at the others.
"I suggest we find all the other cameras in this suite and destroy them." suggested Izuka as here blushed died down.
"That's going to have to wait." said a new voice.
The group turned towards the doorway, which Daisuke was standing in the middle of. He had a glum look across his face.
"The secretary is at the door. It's time for your duel Gaara-san." said Daisuke solemnly as he observed the group.
Everyone turned toward Gaara, who only gave them a blank look.
"Let the games begin." was all he said as he grabbed his gourd and walked out the door.
A/N: Please review and vote on my poll. I can't believe I reached 25 chapters! XD