All I Ever Wanted Was Love

And You Can't Take Back

Kisa shifted in her sleep. Faces… so many faces appeared in her dreams. Some faces she recognized, but some faces she'd swear she had never seen before. But how did she know them?

That, she could not answer.

A low murmuring brought Kisa's vision back into focus.

'Where… where am I?'

She blinked several times, her eyes adjusting to the bright colors around her.

The main garden.

'The main garden…?'

Kisa's eyes darted left and right. She really was in a garden. But how did she know that she was in the main garden?

Before her was carefully patterned stone path, with a low-arc bridge several meters ahead that crossed a small stream.

'It's… so pretty.'

This is my favorite place to be… it calms me down.

Kisa made her way down the path, towards the bridge. The path on the other side of the stream curved behind several bushes- she wanted to see where it led.

To the flower garden.

Kisa didn't question the voice that spoke in her mind- she was distracted by how hard it was to move.

'Why am I wearing a kimono?'

Kisa looked down at the several layers of expensive material that kept her from moving easily as she did in her usual, exposing outfit. She reached down to move the hindering cloth.

'Wha-?'

Kisa gaped at the size of her hands as she brought them up for a closer examination.

'Why are my hand so small?'

I am only five years old. I'll be turning six in one and a half months!

Kisa realized the thing that bothering her about the voice in her head- it was a child's voice. Her voice.

"Yoshiko-dono…"

Kisa turned around to the voice. An old man stood several feet behind her, attired in a simple white robe with a hand on a jeweled cane.

"R-Reiko-jii-san?"

Kisa was confused- how did she know his name? Why did she automatically acknowledge him? Who was he?

"I-I'm sorry. Wh-"

Reiko-jii-san! He is the head of the elders. He's very wise and kind. I like him the best out of the all the elders!

The old man smiled as he made his way closer to the girl.

Kisa found herself looking up at him.

'Am I a child again?'

"Yoshiko-dono… I knew I'd find you out here again."

'Why is he calling me 'Yoshiko-dono'?'

"I think you have the wrong person."

Surprisingly, the old man only smiled down at the child, chuckling gently.

"What game are we playing today, child?"

Kisa wanted to gape at him- what was wrong with the old man?

There's nothing wrong with Reiko-jii-san!

"Reiko-jii-san?"

"Yes, Yoshiko-dono?"

"Where are my parents?"

The old man looked gravely at the child.

"Let us not ask these nonsensical questions."

He turned to leave.

"Reiko-jii-san!"

The old man looked back at the girl.

"If you want to play… go call Yoroi-chan to attend you."

'Attend me?'

Yoroi-kun is my best friend. He'll play with me if I tell him to.

Kisa turned a bit to look at the retreating back of the elderly man.

"Yoshiko-sama."

Kisa almost jumped. Behind her, stood two shadowy figures- both were unrecognizable with no certain features.

The clone servants… They aren't real… so they aren't any fun. Other than when I get to destroy as many of them as I want.

'Clones…? Like… shadow clones?'

Low energy chakra clones. The elders make as many of them as they want or need. We don't have any real servants.

An object emerged from the dark hand of one clone servant.

"The bell…"

Kisa picked up the bell from the hand.

"What do I do with this?"

"Ring it, Yoshiko-sama."

Kisa blinked.

'Did I just say that aloud…? And did they answer it?'

Kisa was willing to take her chances.

"What will it do?"

"Yoroi-sama will come."

Hesitantly, Kisa rang the bell, giving it a small shake.

Instantly, she heard the sound of a body falling to the ground behind her. She turned to see a young boy, who looked no more than ten years old, struggling to his feet. Kisa almost gasped at his face- for it was marred with several scars- each at least a couple inches long that ran across the bottom half of his face. Kisa heard herself call out to him.

"Yoroi-nii-san?"

The young boy looked up at her, his eyes trying to conceal a glare.

"Yoshiko-chan…"

Kisa looked at the boy with pity. He was obviously in pain, but from what- Kisa didn't know.

"Are you alright? You're hurt, aren't you?"

The boy called 'Yoroi' looked surprised.

"You rang the bell, didn't you?"

Kisa in turn, was surprised and confused by his words. Yoroi shrugged it off in annoyance and walked part her to the stream and began washing his face. Kisa stood behind him, listening to the sounds of splashing water.

The bell summons him from wherever he may be… he is transported here through the sound waves of the bell. It's a painful process- or so he says.

Kisa ignored the voice.

'It's too quiet…'

"Ano… Yoroi-nii-san?" Kisa timidly approached him, "Where is everyone?"

Yoroi turned to look back at the girl, confused at her behavior.

"The elders are in the Elder's Chamber, as always," he said, examining her, "Why do you ask?"

Kisa blushed at how foolish her question sounded.

"Uh… no… reason… I was just wondering where the adults and children are…"

Wiping his face dry with his sleeve, Yoroi stepped closer to the girl, looking down at her. Kisa tried to look away, but Yoroi merely tilted her chin up, forcing her to look at him. Kisa felt her face heat up from their close proximity. His bright green eyes were piercing into hers.

"There is no one else here, except us two and the elders… you know this," he spoke softly to the girl, "You know why they keep only two children alive in the Akadou clan…"

Realization dawned upon Kisa as she realized why Yoroi had no problem with being so close to her… despite their current ages.

"…Unless you've forgotten…"

His green eyes were filled with fear.

"They're going to murder me if something happens to you…"

Kisa laughed a fake laugh, trying to brush aside Yoroi.

"I haven't forgotten anything. I just want to play."

She made her way to the bridge.

Tell him to play with me.

Kisa obeyed the voice in her head.

"Come play with me!"

Yoroi walked slowly towards the girl, forcefully making each step.

Kisa turned to look down at the stream. The water was so clear that the sunlight created a mirror in the water. She watched, interested, as she saw the reflection of Yoroi as she made his way to her.

Then, something caught her attention.

Her eyes.

Her eyes were green.

Kisa's eyes shot open.

She was in bed.

'It was just a dream…' she realized.

But wait.

'Where's… Where is Gaara?'

Kisa sat up. She was in a large bed… a large bed with silk covers.

And this definitely wasn't her room.

And her head hurt- a whole heck-of-a-crap lot.

'Where am I?'

"Yoshiko-dono?"

Kisa turned to the voice.

Several old men, dressed in white robes, surrounded her bed. At the head of them was…

"Reiko-jii-san?"

'The one from my dream?'

The old man smiled as he turned back to the rest of the elders.

"The princess has returned!"