Hi everyone! Gaara's finally here :D the plot will really start next chapter, sorry that it took so long to put the characters in place :( I have also Ino by Neiji in the "tags" because I realized that he's most important than her in my plan xD
Anyway, once I've replied to the reviews, the chapter is all yours!
Koen D: Hello! I'm very happy you loved this chapter! I really wanted to show how much they love and care for each other. I won't tell you how the situation will evolve, though ;) I hope the appearance of Gaara will be to your liking!
1: Hi there! I think this chapter will answer some of your questions regarding the Nine and the mages, and I hope you will like it!
Chapter IV: the prince in the shadows.
Gaara ran a hand through his blood-red hair, moving apart his locks, locking for a white root the hairdresser would have missed. However, as usual, Misa had done a great job. Relieved, he let go of his hair, which was now ruffled and spiky. Misa would probably be saddened to see her work ruined but he enjoyed his hair like this; it gave him the impression that he enjoyed the Sunan wind too. The idea of the wind caressing his skin under the warm and resplendent sun of the capitol was a dream that would never become true. His eyes fell on the heavy curtains stopping the sunlight from entering his chambers when an arrow of pain pierced his skull.
A grunt of pain escaped his lips and, as one hand instinctively grabbed the right side of his head, clawing his hair, the other gripped the edge of the dressing table. A cackle echoed in his mind and he closed his eyes, teeth clenched and his grip tightening on the piece of furniture's wood.
Well kid, dreaming of dancing under the sun? It will never happen! You are a child of the moon, and the sun shall never shine on your skin!
The wood broke in his hand, and Gaara fell on his knees, panting, as the echo of the cackle disappeared little by little in the back of his mind as the monster got back to sleep. A long sigh escaped his lips and he got up slowly. The One of Wrath was not a kind partner, and Gaara was sure that the god loved reminding him of his curse to feed on his despair. He walked a few steps towards the curtain, contemplating once again opening them and feel, at least once in his life, the warmth of the aster directly on his skin, and it would not matter if it burnt or made him feel unconscious.
His hand approached the curtain, but he noticed something move from the corner of the eye. The shadows of the room were gathering, ready to create a wall between him and the deadly white. His teeth clenched. He could control them at will, but there was one exception. They would always move on their own to protect him from any danger. He had tried to find a place with no shadow to be free, but it was impossible. There would always be his own shadow or one between his clothes.
He clenched his teeth again and lowered his hand. No matter how much he wanted to feel the sun on his skin, he would never be able to. Even if the shadows did not intervene, he knew his state would make his mother go crazy with worry. He turned away from the curtains to grab his daily equipment. Gloves to protect his arms, a mask covering the lower part of his face and going down on his torso to make sure his skin would not be accidentally be exposed, and a long coat with a hood to protect the rest of his face.
He also owned an umbrella should he want to enjoy the garden at dawn or dusk, but he was not in the mood to watch the other children of the castle run away at his sight. He already had to eat with his family, and he loathed the idea because of his presence's, the Daimyō Rasa Hisuna. The mere sight of his father twisted his stomach into a knot and awoke the dark desires the One of Wrath almost always whispered. The monster sealed within him made destructive thoughts echo in his mind simply by being there and robbed him of his sleep, especially during full moons, his roars resonating in Gaara's mind. He ran a hand on his face and whispered a few words for the One of Peace, hoping she would offer him his support for the difficult meal ahead of him.
He left his chambers, ignoring the weight of the servants' looks he passed by. He did not want their pity; they all thought of him as a broken toy, a weapon unused, a failed experiment who should not have lived. They all hid it behind compassionate smiles and sweet words, but Gaara was not easily fooled. No one could love a monster like him, except his mother, although she was far from demonstrative compared to her relationships with her other children. He had no doubt that his siblings hated him in secret too. They could at least have the decency to be honest and tell him. He slightly shook his head. No, they were surely terrified that the One of Wrath would take over and slaughter them all. The god often reminded him of this, and Gaara had simply accepted the truth of his existence; a prison loathed and feared by all.
He found the member of his family in a room where most of the curtains had been closed. The table was in the shadow, but some couches and the balcony were bathed in the sunlight, which spread and lighten the room. Some candelabras had been added to remedy the lack of light. Gaara felt his stomach twist. He would most be scolded for being the last to arrive, and his heart hurt far too much to accept it in silence.
"Gaara, here you are!", his father said. "Sit down, I have great news to share."
The prince's eyes widened slightly but he quickly obeyed. He did not know what put his father in such a good mood, but he did not want it to change. A family meal with no insult regarding his bloodlust would be most welcomed today. He glanced at his mother, the queen Karura, who offered him a soft and loving smile. He smiled back, forcing his lips to obey. Smiling was not in his nature, or at least not in this context, but it pleased his mother. Temari's voice, his elder sister, brought him back to reality.
"What news would you like to share with us, father?"
"First of all, Hiruzen Sarutobi is soon going to abdicate; surely in a few years, the time it will take for his illness to kill him or to convince him to give up his throne. The Kingdom of Fire will have a new Daimyō."
"Which clan has been chosen?", his mother asked.
"The Hyūgas. I'm not very surprised, the Yggalën are rich and their region prosperous."
"Hiashi Hyūga will be Daimyō, then", Temari concluded. "What do we know about him, exactly? I only know his name."
"Hiashi has been High Lord of Yggalë since he was fifteen, and his rule has been more than prosperous. He enriched his region, who already had enough money. He hunts mages down with more than enough zeal but has never broken a law. He's got a daughter of Gaara's age, Hinata, who the Yggalën call the Snowborn. She was born during a snowstorm and, given the climate of the region, it doesn't snow more than here", the Daimyō explained.
Gaara was only half-listening; the destiny of the Kingdom of Fire did not interest him more than his father's one. He was hated and loathed by his countrymen, so he could not begin to imagine the looks and comments he would be subjected to by the subjects of the neighbouring land. He only wished for one thing; being old enough to live the Kingdom of Wind to settle down in the Kingdom of Water, where the mist ruled and the sun always absent. There, he would be able to live outside.
"But it's not all. The next Daimyō reunion will be hosted in Suna and take place in two months. I expect from all of you a perfect attitude. Temari, Kankurō, you will assist to every meeting, our Council will observe you. Hiashi will surely bring his daughter with you. Gaara, you will do your very best as to not frighten her. Yggalë shares a border with us, and our relationship with them is vital.
Gaara merely nodded. He would simply the aforementioned lady, it would be far easier. He was cursed, possessed, monstrous. Anyone with common sense was afraid of him. Not that he minded; it allowed him to enjoy his beloved solitude, but it was obvious that he was not the person they should count on to bond with a future Great Lady.
Gaara quickly walked down the stairs leading to the training room and found it empty, to his surprise. No knights or squires were in sight, not even the master-at-arms. Gaara frowned. Were they still eating? It was possible. Or maybe they had been called somewhere else, and he simply did not know. Finally, he shrugged; he enjoyed his solitude and he would not complain to have this place for himself. He took his cloak, his gloves and his mask off, revealing a skin so white it looked akin to snow. He grabbed a lance and put himself in front of a mannequin to begin his daily training.
A few minutes later, his siblings arrived. Her sister delicately put her shawl and her skirts, which she wore over silk pants, on a bench, leaving her clad in the aforementioned pants and a sleeveless shirt. As always, she wore white and lavender, two light colours rejecting the inferno of Suna's steppes. If only he too could savour this light and this warmth… He clenched his teeth and focused on the mannequin.
"Gaara, do you know the whereabouts of the master-at-arms?", Kankurō suddenly asked.
"No."
He kept on hitting the mannequin, discarding the weight of his siblings' gaze upon him. Could they not stop staring at him? Were they not used to his appearance and curse, after all these years? Or did they believe that he enjoyed exhibiting his skin when they were blessed with a tanned kissed by the sun? This thought made him roar in rage deep in mind and the subsequent blow he landed on the mannequin destroyed the object, tearing it off the floor and send it crash a few meters away. He looked at the broken thing on the ground and sighed.
He went to pick it up when a chill ran down his spine. He stopped dead in his tracks and turned to face the entry of the room. Someone was coming, and they were aura was misshapen. He crossed his arms on his chest and went to stand in the middle of the room, his eyes never leaving the door. He gathered the shadows around him and the ones he had absorbed and blended with his own under his feet, creating a disk of pure darkness.
"Temari, Kankurō, stand back", he ordered.
"Gaara, what's happening?", Temari asked.
"Someone is coming."
His siblings stood by his sides, their hands on their weapons.
"Stand back", he repeated.
"You're not the only one able to fight", Kankurō replied.
Gaara's jaws clenched, but he did not reply. He would not let them die, but he would prefer it if they obeyed. After waiting for what seemed to be eternity, the person appeared. It was an old woman, but Gaara would not let her appearance deceived him. Something was wrong with the woman's aura, and she reeked of corruption. The One of Wrath was restless in his mind, and it was enough for Gaara to conclude that this woman was far from innocent.
"It's you!", she sang when she saw Gaara. "You're the living prison!"
Gaara frowned his white eyebrows. She was after the One of Wrath. She was not the first, but the others had been nothing but dimwits the guards had arrested and executed on their own. She, however, was more dangerous than these fools, he could feel it, even though she stood no chance against him. Her presence in this room was proof enough and, despite the lack of blood and its smell, it was likely that she had killed the guards and the master-at-arms.
"I waited this day for so long! The day I'd meet him!"
"She's lost her mind", Kankurō remarked.
"And you're perceptive", Temari mocked. "Gaara, you should stand back, we don't know what she's capable of."
"I have no need to be protected."
"Of course, you do", Temari replied. "You're our younger brother, do you truly believe we'll allow this woman to approach you?"
"I'm aware that you're afraid of me. Stand back or I'll make you."
He felt Temari's body tense next to him and smirked. He was right. Behind their compassionate words hid two cowards who could not even tell the truth. The One of Wrath was not the kindest of companion, but he was an honest prisoner. Gaara was his prison, it was the sole reason for his existence. Conceived to contain the god and use for the Kingdom of Wind. This was how humans saw him, and frankly, how he saw himself. What else could a cursed one be? He attempted to satisfy his mother and would not allow himself to die, but he could not figure what else he could be, although it did not matter. As long as he lived and his mother smiled, he was content.
He stepped forward, and the shadow twirled around him, akin to a living mist, as he cocked his head to the side, waiting for her to move. He usually reacted instead of starting hostilities unless he was sure to win quickly and easily. Moreover, he wanted answers.
"Where are the guards?", he asked.
"Why, they're dead, young prison. I wasn't going to let them interrupt the meeting with my lord. This prince and this princess are in the way", she added.
"You will not harm them. Answer quickly and clearly, and your death will be fast."
"My death? I don't care for my death of pain. I simply wish to release my lord from you, young prison."
"It will not happen."
The woman smiled but something was queer. Her smile was too big, her face too stretched and suddenly, her mouth opened. However, it was not a human mouth, but rather animalistic jaws filled with fangs putting Gaara's ones to shame. He frowned as the woman's body twisted and distorted itself to become something akin to a giant beast, about five meters tall. She had most likely swallowed whole the guards of the room. It would explain the lack of blood.
Without a doubt, she would do her best to kill him and therefore free the essence of the One of Wrath sealed within him. After a few years, the essence would shape, and the god would be free to wreak havoc upon men as it pleased him. Gaara heard his siblings' weapons falling to the ground as the smell of their fear filled the room. He rolled his eyes. Where were their beautiful words now that the danger was inevitable?
"Are you certain, young prison?" the creature growled.
"Absolutely."
He focused and the shadow darted towards her. The woman shook her immense body and soared towards him but Gaara did not move. The shadow became a black mass and captured the woman's body with no difficulty. What a fool. Did this pathetic mage truly think she could defeat him? She surely had no difficulties against regular humans, but he was the prison of the One of Wrath. As corrupt as she may be, she would need more than a weak blessing from the One of Beasts to defeat him. A smile twisted his face. He was having a terrible day and killing this woman would be a perfect way to ease his anger. He rose an arm, palm toward the roof, and the shadow lifted the monstrous body.
Gaara cackled at the sight of her futile resistance. She was doomed, akin to a bug he could crush under his boot. He gave her one last smile and close his hand. The shadow immediately clenched, crushing her body. Its duty accomplished, the shadow came back under his feet as the mangled and bloody body of the intruder fell to the ground.
"We must find guards to escort you", he said to Temari and Kankurō.
"G-Gaara…", his sister muttered. "I-I'm sorry, I was afraid, I should have helped you…"
He turned his head toward her and locked his eyes into hers. Was she blind or simply dim-witted?
"You cannot help me. You are weaker than me. Admit your weakness and your scorn for me, it should remove a weight from your shoulders."
After these words, he turned around and walked towards the exit, arms crossed on his chest. They would follow him. After a few seconds, he heard Kankurō's precipitated footsteps and his brother stood before him, his fists clenched.
"Listen to me. Neither Temari nor I have the same powers as you, you cannot blame us for being afraid before a monster like the one you just killed. It's not as easy for us as it is for you. Yes, we are weak compared to you, and you could probably make blood rain on the entire castle if you tried. You can call me a coward and a weak as much as you want, I don't care. But don't ever say that we loathe you again!", he yelled, and Gaara frowned. "Temari and I love you more than we love father and mother! When you were born, you were small, weak and premature and, even though everyone thought you'd die, we never doubted one second that you would be fine. Because we already loved. And we still do."
"You're afraid of me. You cannot love something you're afraid of", Gaara replied, cocking his head to the side.
"This is where you're mistaken. We love you despite our fear."
"I do not understand."
"Love isn't something you can understand. Believe me, for once", Kankurō grumbled before turning around and leaving the room.
Temari ran to him and stopped facing Gaara, her face saddened and resigned. She took his hand Gaara allowed her, unable to understand why she would squeeze it this much.
"I know love is something unknown to you, for only mother openly cares for you, and that you don't understand what we feel for you. But I swear that I love you, and not a day passes without cursing myself for fearing your powers and the monster asleep in your mind", she confessed, tears appearing in the corner of her eyes. "Thank you for saving us today. When you will be ready, whether it is today, tomorrow, or in ten years, allow us to love you, alright?"
Gaara watched her leave in silence.