Boo! So, uh... before you guys kill me, I've been drowning under exams. But thankfully, I only have two more to go, and then I'm free! Until around this time next term... ugh :/ Aaaaand... I'm in shock. 58 reviews in one hit. Albeit, not all for the same chapter, but nevertheless. 58 freaking reviews in one freaking hit! I think I just died and went to heaven... Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you! Gosh you guys are amazing, and in thanks, I've given you not only a long chapter, but a Gaara-centric chapter to boot! Just thank you all so much, I can't say how much it means to me ^_^
Picassa Phantom
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anon (I appreciate your compliment and your reviews and thank you very much for them both, but please, never ever liken any of my stories to Twilight. Ever. Thank you very much, but please... never... :S)
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Phew, that took a bit. Thank you so much to all of you, I appreciate it more than you could possible realise :D This chapter is dedicated to all of you in your own way, and most definitely to Evangeline the fallen who reviewed almost every chapter and left me smiling like some sort of crazed idiot. Especially because your reviewes were absolutely hilarious ^_^ But to all of you, THANK YOU!
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Just because everything's changing,
Doesn't mean it's never been this way before.
All you can do is try to know who your friends are,
As you head off to the war.
- The Call, Regina Spektor
.:{}:.
Gaara Speaks
The wait was agony. Just sitting in that dull little pastel room, with indecipherable water paintings and a few stray children's toys parted from their box. Pamphlets and magazines littered the area, and I was vaguely aware of the receptionist eyeing me in such a way that left me feeling uncomfortable. I quickly shot her a glare, then went back to staring at the wall. How long had Hinata been in there? Fifteen? Twenty minutes? What were they doing in there?
Finally I heard a door creak open and Hinata's hesitant footsteps creep down the hall. I turned to look at her, a small smile tugging at the corner of my lip. But then I saw her stumble from the office, her face pale and her eyes haunted. I immediately stood and wrapped her in my arms.
"You right?" I asked, and she nodded her head.
"Can we go?"
I said nothing as I led her from the building and into a nearby park, where I quickly sat her down on a free bench and encompassed her within my arms.
"Shh, Hinata," I murmured under my breath, rubbing my hand in soothing circles across her back. "Shh, it's over; it's okay. Everything's going to be alright."
"N… no," she stuttered weakly, and buried her face further into my shirt. I could feel her tears soaking through the material. "I… it was h… humiliating and… and degrading and… and th… they recorded everything and… and there's g… going to be a t… trial and… I c… can't do this a… anymore, Gaara," she sobbed, and I did my best to try and console her. "N… not to Sakura a… and Kasumi…"
"Did they say when the case would go to court?"
"Y… yes," she choked. "In f… four months. I… I have to testify and… and tell them e… everything. I… How can I d… do that?"
I said nothing. Just sat there and let her cry into my shirt.
The Blood of Ivory
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Chapter 37
Eventually, Kasumi came and retrieved Hinata, and I watched her leave with a leaden heart. There was something I had yet to do, and I was at crossroads trying to figure out how.
I had to leave my house.
Sounds simple, really. Nothing with my father ever is. And I couldn't just leave, like I so desperately wished I could do. But I needed clothes and money and other basic necessities.
I sighed, and slowly started to walk in the general direction of my house. Itami would be violent as always. Possibly even more so as I hadn't been home in the past twenty four hours. He was going to have a field day. I was just glad that it was a Saturday and not a Sunday.
I made it home quicker than I would have otherwise liked, and sneaked through the front door as quietly and as quickly as possible. I managed to get up the stairs and in to my room, before finding an old school bag and shoving it full of spare clothing and any money I had lying around. Then, I picked up my normal school bag and Hinata's school bag, which I hadn't retrieved before now, and crept into the kitchen where Itami's money jar was. For once, luck seemed to be on my side, and it was full with fresh cash.
I took it all, not caring that Itami would chuck a fit. Hopefully he'd have a heart attack and die. But that was only if my luck would hold out.
Unfortunately, my luck didn't last as far as the front door, because Itami's foul voice sliced the air as soon as my fingertips brushed the handle.
"Gaara!"
I cringed, before letting out an exasperated, "What?"
"Where the fuck do ya think you're goin', eh?"
I took a deep breath, and set the bags down by the door. "Away from you." I turned to look into the living room, and there he lay, sprawled out on the decrepit couch. "You got a problem with that?"
I watched as he struggled to get off the couch in his drunken stupor, but with a sudden flash of adrenaline, I strode into the living room and pushed him back down.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" he roared, but I didn't flinch.
"You listen here, you pathetic wretch of a human being," I hissed, glaring at him. "I'm getting out of this hell hole, and I am never coming back. I don't care if I end up in the gutter; I'm getting as far away from here and as far away from you as physically possible. You made my life a living hell from the moment I was born, and for what? Being born? Mum couldn't help it, and I was a fucking baby, you insolent arse-hole. Do you honestly think that I would purposely kill my own mum? I'd rather kill you instead. You tried to feed me lies, saying things like everybody hates you and nobody would care if you died, but you know what? That's just a lie. And I don't care about you and I don't care about your opinion. You can wallow and rot in it for all I care. And now I'm finally getting away from here, and I'm getting away from you, because that has been my dream since I was a child and you carved love into my head, to try and tell me that it was something I wasn't worth receiving. But I know better now." I smiled, and an image of Hinata drifted into my thoughts. "Because I know that I am worth it, and that after all of your shit, I deserve it." I felt as if a weight had been taken off my shoulders, and I turned to leave, before one last thing struck me. "Itami?" I could feel his eyes glaring holed into the back of my head. "I want you to know that I forgive you for the hell that you put me through, because in your own little fucked up way you were trying to keep on loving mum. But I will never forget what you did, and I will hate you every single day for the rest of my life. But thank God I can live with that."
And I left.
.:{}:.
I had no real clue as to where I should go, but common sense told me to find somewhere to stay the night. I could figure everything out tomorrow. I started heading towards the nearest motel, and quickly bought a room for the night, before dumping mine and Hinata's stuff there. I'd give it back to her tomorrow. Then I left the room, money in hand, and headed straight for Naruto's. With any luck, Jiraiya would be home as well, and I could ask if I could board there until I'd saved up enough money to find a place of my own.
Naruto's house was a good hour walk, but I needed the air and some time to calm down after the confrontation with my father. Apart from recording Hinata, that had been the hardest thing I'd ever had to do, but I was glad I'd done it. I was finally free of that stinking scum-bag.
The blond's house was quite large, what, with Jiraiya being a successful porn author and all. That was why I'd chosen him to ask. They honestly did have plenty of room to spare, and I couldn't imagine Naruto sending me away.
I knocked on the front door, and after elephantine footsteps were heard reverberating throughout the house, Naruto opened the door, the pungent scent of ramen emanating from his clothing.
"Hey Gaara," he greeted me, that stupid lopsided grin etched onto his face. "What'cha doin' here?"
I was never really one to beat around the bush, so to speak, so I got right to the point, brutally blunt as usual. "I left home and need a place to stay until I can find a place of my own. Could I live with you for a while?"
And Naruto being typical Naruto readily agreed, before calling Jiraiya down and asking his opinion.
"Hey Gaara," Jiraiya greeted, sounding a lot like his god-son. "What're you doing here?"
I opened my mouth to speak, but Naruto beat me to it. "He kicked himself out and wants to know if he can crash here for a while."
I swear, only those two could hear something like that and react as normally as if someone had asked them for the time.
"Why sure, I mean, we've got plenty of room and no one else to stay here. I'll be leaving to promote my new book in a week, so you may as well have some company, Naruto. When did you want to move in?"
I shrugged. "Tomorrow okay with you?"
The nodded in sync, which was just a little creepy. "Where you staying?"
"Motel tonight. I'll come 'round tomorrow with my stuff, if that's okay?"
"Sure, see you tomorrow then."
I walked away, a smile on my face. Finally, things seemed to be going right for a change.
I hope that that was worth the wait, and I'm really sorry I made you guys wait for so long. That reminds me - I should probably start the next chapter for my other story. I haevn't started it yet :P And it's been over a month... Damn you guys for making me addicted to writing this story! But not really ^_^ Ahaha :D
So as always, reviews would be incredibly appreciated and treasured :D Seeing as I have Wednesday free, I could possibly fit in some writing should I want to... winkwink ;)
Much love, SapphireRivulet xoxoxox