Hello hello. Lol That was fun how you all thought I really ended the story there. (I was laughing so hard. My friend even hit me.) SO anyway… last…. Chapter….. Will they end together? Maybe…Well…. Go on…(P.s sorry I took so long with putting the last chapter on.)
Morning-
Long discussion with everyone talking. Gaara didn't say anything yet. He believes he really tried to kill Hotaru.
Hotaru is still in the bed.
They all stared on the floor in silence. Each with their own little hope that Hotaru was going to wake up any second now.
Sakura even jumped up when she thought she heard a door, but it was just Naruto coming out the bathroom.
Sasuke gripped the side of the couch, each minute getting him furious since Gaara was in the room. He sat glaring, biting down on his lip till Sakura nudged him to calm down.
Hinata finally came out Hotaru's, twiddling her fingers together in a nervous way, "Um.. Her temperature went up.. So.."
Naruto frowned, "So.."
"O-oh! That's a good thing… c-cause her temperature was unusually low.."
Naruto forced a smile and raised his arms, inviting her into a cuddle. "You're doing a good job Hinata." He pecked on the neck.
Sakura lowered her eyes, "W-Will she be awake when we leave?"
Sasuke and Gaara rose their eyes, looking at Hinata with hope.
She shrugged so timid and scared, Naruto rubbed her shoulder as she quivered in his arms, "I-I don't know.. B-but I really tried my best s-so.."
Naruto frowned again, "Can't we just stay until she does?"
Sasuke narrowed his eyes in anger, "We can't. If we don't get back in time, we'll get in trouble." He glared at Gaara, "Hope you're happy."
Gaara gave him a troubled look then looked away, standing as he did. He went over to the window and looked out. He didn't really say anything much after that.
In Hotaru's room.
"I have your life Hotaru.. There's nothing you could do about it." His icy eyes glared at her. She was on her knees, blood trembling down past her thighs.
Out of fear, she cowered down even more.
He roughly grabbed her by the chin, his blue long eyelashes sparkled down at her. If he wasn't so evil he would've been considered an angel.
But he was far from an angel.
Her eyes lowered halfway, red tears glistening down her cheeks.
He looked at her coldly, but somehow his smile warmed her. He placed his hand on her cheek, red blood going over his fingers, "You look so beautiful when you cry." He dug his nails in her face, "But only when its red."
Hotaru gasped awake.
Back in the living room-- Afternoon
"So when are you going to explain yourself?"
Gaara was back to his old usual self. His anger began rising when he heard Sasuke talk, he looked at him as hateful as he did, "I was waiting for you to calm down."
Sasuke laughed shortly, "Calm down." He glared at him, "You fucking expect me to calm down?"
Hinata narrowed her eyes, "C-can we please not fight?"
"Maybe if he explained his fucking self."
Gaara smirked, his eyes enraging, "So you still love her."
Sasuke gave him a disgusted look, "I love her like a sister I once had."
Gaara grabbed him by the front of his shirt, "Good because you're not allowed too."
"Don't you touch me." He jerked away and he did a short hand signal, fire emerging from his fingertips.
Gaara's sand automatically raised from his back and it glowered over with hatred and the need for blood.
Hinata got in between them, "Stop!"
Sakura couldn't move, "W-what is wrong with you two? You were getting along before."
"Lie." Sasuke's flame disappeared as Gaara's sand did, "I never liked him and I never will."
Gaara lowered his eyes, I just wanted to be forgiven… to fit in… and I… I messed it all up..
Hinata reached to touch him but Gaara flinched back again from her. She stopped and smiled, "Hey Gaara.. Hotaru told me that you've been feeling bad. Wanting to be forgiven right?"
Gaara backed up away from her, "I'm going to go."
Naruto leaned on the front door, "No way man. I forgive you. And I don't even think you did anything."
Gaara kept glancing back and forth, almost frightened that he was surrounded, "T-That's not the point Naruto. Let me through."
Sasuke threatened to punch him but Hinata held him by the shirt, she looked back at Gaara, "P-please don't go Gaara. Don't you want to say goodbye to Hotaru?"
Sakura stood up, "He doesn't need too. He said it when he tried to kill her."
Gaara backed up on a wall again. Sakura's words were like knifes.
Naruto slammed his fist, "Both of you are bitches, he loves her."
They all looked at Gaara. Wondering what he would say now.
Gaara closed his eyes in pain, "Just leave me alone. Leave me alone. I don't want to be forgiven. I don't want to be!"
"YOU NEVER WERE!" A new familiar voice emerged from up the stairs.
There Hotaru was, barefoot and her hair messy.
"Hotaru." They all whispered to themselves.
All except Gaara, he looked away in shame, She'll never forgive me.
She smiled toward him, "Is what you want to hear. Correct?" Naruto, Hinata and Sakura tackle hugged her in excitement.
Sasuke and Gaara watching in disbelief. "No way." Sasuke shook his head.
Gaara crept to the front door.
Hotaru narrowed her eyes, "I don't know where you think you're going mister."
Gaara stopped, squeezing the doorknob. I don't want to be… I don't…
"AND YOU!" Hotaru pointed to Sasuke.
He frowned at her, "What?"
She walked to him casually then slapped him. Hard and sharp.
Sasuke placed his hands where she slapped him. It hurt. It really did. Shit. I'm glad she didn't punch me.
She glanced at Sakura who now flinched back behind Hinata, she narrowed her eyes, "You're lucky I don't want to slap you too. Otherwise-" Hotaru's eyes suddenly rolled back and she slumped down. Now struggling to catch her breath.
Sasuke was able to catch her and he helped her to the couch. "Hey-"
This put everyone to action. Hinata went by her side, "M-Ms. Hotaru.. You're still healing. N-Naruto-kun can you get some water? Sakura p-please get blankets."
Hotaru smirked, "My my Hinata. You've grown so much. Maybe I should've been in a coma sooner."
Hinata blushed, "T-Thank you.."
"But I'm fine. I just need to rest." She sighed out then stood up again. "Gaara." She said weakly.
He glanced back, "I think its best if I go.." He mumbled, hand still squeezing the doorknob. His face showed no emotion but honestly he was dying inside. He could feel Hotaru's eyes narrow down into a sad feature… Wait a minute… Sad? He jerked around and saw she had her regular look. He breathed out in relief… Of course… she can't wait until I leave..
"Gaara." She sounded so tired. "Don't go… Not right now.. We had a.." Sweat drops started to appear and she once again passed out.
Naruto came back, ice cold water in a bowl. "How is she?"
Hinata pulled him down. "Wh-where is-"
Sakura handed her a towel out of nowhere.
"T-Thanks." She dipped the towel in and felt on Hotarus head, "Her temperature is rising rapidly!"
Sasuke narrowed his eyes, "Weird.."
"Hotaru.."
Hotaru struggled to breath, she gasped out. Trickles of blood crept down from her mouth. She began to cough over and over again.
Gaara started breathing hard, W-what can I do? He heard Hinata and everyone began to panic. But all he heard was echoing. A sharp pain hit his head. W-Whats going on? Everything around him started to look weird. He panicked and pressed on the door. W-Wha.. He looked toward Hotaru.
No way.. He widened his eyes. It was a spirit of someone. It paid no attention to no one and the others in the room didn't even seem to know it was there.
Its icy fingers began to pry in Hotaru's chest, Gaara could see an evil smile begin to appear. He narrowed his eyes. "GET AWAY FROM HER!"
Sasuke noticed Gaara, staring… staring at Hotaru? Hinata? Who? "Gaara." He said unwarily, "What?"
Gaara jumped over the couch, pushing Sakura and Naruto out the way, "Hinata did Hotaru teach you anything else beside healing justus?"
Hinata looked at him a bit crazy but was still thinking, "Y-yeah but she didn't tell me what one was for so-"
"Use it."
"What?"
Sasuke suddenly became tense, "Something is here…"
Sakura shivered, "I'm cold.."
Gaara grabbed Hinatas hand and pressed it on Hotarus belly button, "Use it." He repeated and looked up.
The spirit noticed Gaara and it glared at him.
His eyes were frost, his clothes in heavy blue. He leaned down to Gaara and they both stared each other down.
"You." It rasped out.
"Now Hinata." Gaara gripped her hand.
Hinata straightened her back, exhaled soft and closed her eyes, when Gaara let go she did five jutsus and said some foreign word no one could hear.
For real. Everything went silence. As if someone pressed mute on a remote.
A huge dark blue light spread and everyone looked above Hotaru in horror.
"W-who-" Hinata fell back, almost hitting her head on a nearby but Naruto came behind her and wrapped his arms around her neck, also frightened by the weird light.
Sakura rushed to Sasuke and they held each other.
Gaara grabbed Hotarus hand, "Ezekiel." He whispered.
The spirit first looked on how Gaara was holding Hotarus hand then smirked down at him, he said something to him but once again. The silence was too strong and no one could hear nothing.
Then in a quick second. He was gone.
Hinata trembled in Naruto's arms, sobbing to herself, "Noo."
Sakura kept her face blank, a tear appeared and many more followed.
Sasuke squeezed Sakura close. A troubled look on his face.
And Naruto… he also squeezed his loved one. He closed his eyes in pain.
Hotaru gasped again. She sat up in a shock, looking around wide eyed and frightened.
Gaara pulled her into a tight hug, "Hotaru."
Hotaru continued breathing hard. "Gaara." She breathed out in gasps. "I'm.. I'm sorry.."
Almost night--
Hotaru waited till everyone calmed then she sat, looking at the floor. "Um.. I just want to say sorry for what you saw and…" She narrowed her eyes in regret. "And… I want you to forget everything you just saw.."
"What?" Naruto frowned. "Who could forget-"
"I know.. I know.." Hotaru gazed up, "But it will only happen if you stay with me so.."
Gaara raised an eyebrow, "Happen? Wha-"
Everyone then nodded.
Gaara gripped her arm, "Happen? What do you mean."
Hinata was about to say something but Hotaru raised her hand to stop her, "I said.. Forget.."
He frowned to say something else but then … he just smiled, "You know what…" He pulled her in another hug, "Forget it.. I don't care right now."
nighttime--
So they all acted like nothing happened. Besides, it was their last day and they wanted to spend it fun.
After playing a violent board game. (And what I mean by violent is Gaara, Naruto and Sasuke ending up in a huge wrestle cause they kept accusing each other of cheating.) Hinata ended up winning the most games. Sakura in a huge puff, meaning mad that she lost, and Hotaru laughing her ass off. Hotaru then put on some dance music and they all danced, drinked a little (Yeah what they think is a little. WHICH WAS A WHOLE SHIT LOAD!) and danced their butts off until they could barely move.
Naruto gurgled water in his mouth, Hinata giggling on him. She moved her heavy hand to his face and ended up smacking him.
This made Sasuke and Sakura laugh.
Hotaru shook her head, "Good night all. Get some rest."
"Ugh what time is it?" Naruto barely made the effort to look for a clock.
"Its only 12:00 A.M."
"Jeez.." He dozed off.
Gaara tightened his hug on Hotaru, kissing her on the neck.
She laughed, "Aren't you tired?"
"Mmm."
"Not an answer." She flipped around. (All the girls were using the guys as a bed just to let you know.) She kissed him, "Go to sleep Gaara." She whispered, her eyes lingering.
He looked at her tired, "No." He ended the convo right there.
She looked at him in a bit of surprised, "Excuse me?"
"I said no." He sat up, "If I go to sleep… Then.." He lowered his eyes, not wanting to finish.
She then nodded, understanding. That was also why she didn't want to go to sleep, "Yeah.." She sighed.
Gaara glanced at her then smirked, "Hey… Want to go outside?"
Outside--
"WAAHH!" Hotaru looked at moon. "Its full again! What fun! And on our last night!" She waited for his usual response but she didn't hear anything but crickets. "Uhh? Gaara?"
He was already up the hill and getting ready to plop down on the grass. He barely noticed she was still climbing down the ladder and he raised an eyebrow like "Huh?"
She pouted her lips, pretending to be fussy about it, "OH GEE THANKS!"
"SLOW ASS!" He yelled back.
She made it to the ground, sighing to herself and looking at the moon. That means the other full moon was fake… She softened the look in her eyes, walking slow to Gaara on purpose. Ezekiel always liked the full moon…
"Hotaru. I'm your moon. No matter what size or shape its in…. I'm always here to shine the darkness away." He smiled at the young Hotaru, cuddling the side of her face, "Always.."
"Hotaru."
Hotaru blinked out of daydreaming, she recovered by putting on an amused smile, "That was MAJOR sleepwalking right there. My bad." She patted behind her head in pretend embarrassment.
Gaara knew she was faking. He knew and didn't like it.. But… still.. He didn't want to ruin it all. "Sit."
She was about to sit beside him but he grabbed her hips and made her sit between his legs. She made a surprised gasp.
No really. That surprised her. He was always too shy to do anything like that.
He wrapped his strong arms around her, kissing the side of her neck in a soft nuzzle.
Hotaru felt herself blush. The way he did it was so sweet. So secure and safe.. so… protected..
Rameses grinned at her, "Don't worry Hotaru!" He wrapped his hair into a ponytail, "I'll get your master to set you free! Then we can live together, get married and make a HUGE family!"
Hotaru smiled, squeezing him into a tight hug, "Oh Rameses! You'll get in trouble if he hears you."
"So? As long as you're safe. I'll protect you."
Gaara frowned and lifted her chin up to kiss her. Afterward he massaged her lip with his thumb, "Hey Hotaru. If you want me to stay… Just say so.." He gazed at her, "And I will.."
She widened her eyes. Stay? Stay with me? "Forever?" She whispered out unwarily.
His shining eyes sadly sparkled down at her, "Yeah. Forever."
This is it… This is the moment… This will determine everything… She sat silent, gripping his arm and narrowing her eyes, "Sta-"
"I'll protect you."
"I'll protect you."
That's when Hotaru felt her heart burn. She felt it crash and stop beating. Her eyes began to swell up, "N-no…No.. A deals a deal…" She looked away, "I'm sorry.." She didn't dare close her eyes. If she did.
Tears would come.
He first looked at her hurt then he settled down to a smile. "Yeah…" He closed his eyes, "Yeah.."
A few minutes later, Gaara ended up falling asleep. Still sitting up though. He didn't want to bother Hotaru nor did he even know he fell asleep.
(I wish I knew how to do that…)
She looked up at him, a tear going down her cheek. She couldn't hold it in any more, "I'm sorry Gaara.." She pressed her head against his chest. "I really do love you.. I do… And… And I want you to stay with me forever but.."
The familiar icy eyes of Ezekiel ran across her mind.
She trembled, "But… If I really do love you… I would let you go.." She looked up at the moon.
The real full moon.
"Hey Gaara" She whispered, "…. You're my hope… my light…
You're my full moon."
Morning-
"Rise and shine buttheads." There was Naruto and everyone, their luggage packed and everything.
Hotaru yawned, getting up.
Gaara groggily stood then snapped awake, Morning?
Hinata and Sakura did their little girly crying and I miss you crap. Hotaru patted both their heads even though they were like an inch taller, "Now now you two! You can always come and visit."
They seemed to perk up even more, "YAY!" They squealed.
Naruto and Sasuke smirked at Gaara, "Hey Gaara. You're staying right?" Naruto said all happy.
Gaara yawned, stretching out to the sun, "Staying? For what?"
Sasuke narrowed his eyes, That was all for nothing?
Hotaru came up behind them and patted them both hard on the back, "LEAVING WITHOUT SAYING GOODBYE WILL YOU!" She grasped their heads under her armpits.
Naruto squirmed, "AH!"
After a bit of wrestling they group hugged.
"I'll miss you two." She smacked her palm, "Especially the fighting." She winked out.
Naruto gave a piece sign, "We'll all be back to visit you before you know it!"
Sasuke smirked, "Then I'll kick your ass."
"Keep dreaming buster." She flicked under his chin. She then looked at Gaara.
They both gave out a sigh and smiled.
"You!" She hugged him, kissing him on the cheek. Inside she was crushing but she couldn't show it.
Before Gaara let go he whispered something that almost made her burst to tears. He then grabbed her hand and kissed her palm. His look serious.
(You'll find out in a minute. Calm yourselves.)
They all waved goodbye and started walking away.
Gaara looked at her evilly, "No smoking!"
"BAH!" She threw her sandal at him.
Hours later of walking--
Hinata tugged on Gaara's sleeve, "Gaara…"
He glanced at her, "Hm?"
"You know… I think she would have liked it better if you stayed.."
Suddenly everyone was in the conversation and they all shouted yes.
Sasuke pushed him angrily, "Yeah man. What's your deal?"
Gaara shoved his hands in his pockets, "Yeah I think so too.. But.." He smirked, "Like Naruto said. We'll be back to visit before she knows it." He then glanced back and forth ahead. Raised two fingers in the air as a goodbye and jumped to a tree.
He stood for a second looking back toward Hotarus' house then jumped again and started heading home.
Hotaru didn't budge from her spot. She kept her palm near her heart. Looking up at the blue sky. Then when she realized they were all gone… she smirked. She closed her eyes and rekissed the spot where Gaara had pressed his lips on.
What he said: "Hotaru. Just call my name and I'm here."
That's it…. Sorry for taking so long but I was soo busy with Christmas shopping. Forgive me! Oh. I already made the next chapter for Bleeding in the Sand 2.
Are you all still interested in reading it? Or are you too bored with me now. Cause if you are I can make one more chapter and end it all in a happy ending.
(Although then you won't know about Ezekiel and Rameses but.. Whatever floats your boat yah know!)