All I Ever Wanted Was Love

And It Chills to The Bone

SORRY THAT I'VE BEEN AWAY FOR SO LONG!

Uh… oh yeah, depending on how yall respond (yes, I did just say 'yall'… I AM Texan) I'm debating on the ending right now… I can't figure out if I shall appease the crowd with a happy-hunky-dory ending that's UBER cute OR make yall cringed with a ridiculously sad ending… or maybe I'll even just write two endings? I'm not exactly sure… ANYWAYS! Yall have 7 (SEVEN) chapters left to review… then it's the end… (3

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Gaara sat completely still as he leaned against the wall of his dark bedroom. The house was completely silent – Temari was out somewhere and Kankuro was… well, Kankuro was somewhere in the house… probably sleeping without snoring, for once. It was so quiet that Gaara could hear his own breathing – long and shallow.

His dark rimmed eyes closed – and there she was again.

In the short moment of having been so close to her – he had memorized the contours of her face and upper body. Her baby fat was almost completely gone. Her skin was darker than it had been when she was still a child. Yet, he thought, there was something different about her that time than their weeks of bliss together.

'Something…', he meditated to himself as he opened his eyes.

He could still feel her close to him… though he felt so cold now. Gaara swallowed with some degree of difficulty. He could still feel her slender fingers pressed against his throat. The unanswered questions flooded his mind again.

Who… are you?

How… did this happen?

When… did you become like this?

Where… are you, Kisa?

How… could I let this happen?

But the one question that pierced him to his very soul, the one question that was screaming in his ears through the silence… why?

Gaara felt himself trembling again. But with what, he could not understand. Was it rage? Was it anger? Was it grief? Was it fear? What made his body react this way?

His folded arms slid into an embrace around himself. His body didn't stop trembling.

Why…

Why me?

He felt himself curling up into a ball as he retracted himself from the world.

Why did this happen?

WHY?

Gaara hugged himself tighter, afraid that if he let go, he would shatter into a million pieces. Her name echoed in his empty, yet crowded mind. His lips trembled as he barely whispered her name.

"Kisa…"

Let's be friends.

It's okay.

You don't like my secret place?

I said it's okay… Gaara-kun.

Call me Sa-chan.

Kisa… I love you…

Friends forever, right?

You're acting so silly!

I love you so much…

I really missed you.

Nii-san passed away.

But I couldn't protect you… I wasn't there when you needed me the most.

Hey there…

I washed your clothes for you.

You must be getting cold.

You've always been there for me…

Where have you been this whole time?

I've been here for the past six years!

I don't remember being here…

I've never been out of the Hidden Sand.

I hope Kyo will be okay with me leaving.

I owe this clan a large debt – and I am going to repay it… whether or not they are using me.

I was born to be an assassin.

I live to kill.

That wasn't you… It couldn't have been you.

Gaara felt something inside of him break as a hot liquid began to blur his vision.

"Kisa…" he spoke as a single tear fell on his arm, "Where are you…? I need you…"

Outside his door, Kankuro sat perfectly still, barely breathing. When he finally heard his younger brother speak, he silently stood and made his way downstairs.

'Gaara…' he thought, troubled.

It had been three days since Gaara appeared on their doorstep, unconscious as he was carried by shadowy figures. He (Kankuro) and Temari both had been completely shocked since they had just sent out their brother earlier that day. They had no choice but to bring Gaara to his room (they brought a sleeping mat in there for him) and wait for him to wake up – lest Shukaku came out. Gaara did wake up soon enough, and was dazed and confused when he first sat up to find his brother and sister staring at him. Then, when the memories had come back to him – he refused to speak or eat anything at all, troubling his siblings even more. They could only wonder what had happened during those few of hours at the Akadou estate.

Kankuro let out a sigh as he sat down on the couch. True love these days was as hard to find as it was to keep – which is why he already decided that he would have all the free sex and food that he could take.

'But in the end,' he contemplated, 'what good would all those wasted years be? Wouldn't I rather just find a girl that loves me as much as I love her and grow old with her?'

Kankuro shook the thoughts out of his head – his future would come later. Right now, Gaara's life was more important.

'Being in love with that girl is really kicking the crap out of Gaara, though.'

At that moment, Temari barged into the house. Yes, having a dysfunctional Gaara in the house was dangerous – but it didn't stop her from being herself.

"Kankuro!"

Kankuro lolled his head over to his sister's direction.

"Nani?"

"They put me on duty to escort the Leaf's new Hokage over here for some diplomatic-crap," she whined.

"Eh?" the puppeteer raised a brow, "Did they kick out the old one?"

"No…" Temari groaned as she pulled off her shoes and walked over to the couch, "He died."

"Oh," Kankuro said as his sister dropped her body onto the couch, "Well… so what about the escorting thing?"

Temari shrugged, "I don't know… but I really hate having anything to do with politics." She looked over to her brother. "You remember how Dad never had time for us because he was the kage?"

She paused for Kankuro to nod his sandy-brown head.

"Well, I guess that's one reason I hate politics."

Kankuro nodded understandingly as Temari stood and stretched.

"You know what? If you or Gaara ever – and I mean EVER – get into politics… like being the Kazekage or any elder stuff like that… I am so going to find a way to murder you then beat the crap out of you."

Kankuro smiled a bit as he watched his sister saunter into the kitchen.

'That's just like Temari to say something like that…' His brown eyes traveled to the kitchen ceiling. 'But… what has that girl done to you, Gaara?'

"You… You aren't Kisa."

The girl smiled.

"Of course…"

Her fingers pressed into Gaara's neck as she skillfully absorbed chakra from key points- knocking the boy unconscious in the process. Her devilish smirk melted away into an expressionless mask as she watched the red-haired shinobi fall to the ground before her feet.

"…I'm not."

She took a step over Gaara's body and used her foot to roll him onto his back. Bright green eyes examined the unconscious boy on the floor. Slowly, she looked towards the door with a dead look in her eyes.

'I wonder…'

Turning her head to the red haired boy on the floor again, she formed a seal with her bloodstained hands and chakra began flowing out of the gems on her bracelets and surrounded the boy, encasing him in a clear blue cocoon structure. Stretching out one arm, the mass of chakra began levitating as the girl led it out of the room.

Walking slowly, the girl made her way towards the largest chamber in the whole estate – the Elder's Chamber.

Huge oak doors loomed before the girl toting an unconscious Gaara behind her. Her eyes narrowed as she stepped forward to pull the heavy doors open and entered.

Before her were four elevated rows of six throne-like seats, each seated with an elder robed in white. At the center of them all, Reiko sat in a throne that was larger than the rest. Simultaneously, all the figures rose from their seats and bowed low before the girl. Reiko rose from his humble position first.

"We welcome you back… Yoshiko-dono."

Yoshiko stared unemotionally back at the head elder as the rest of the elders rose and returned to their seats.

"Thank you…" she spoke as she moved towards an unoccupied couch-like seat that faced the elder's thrones. Sitting down in it, she gesticulated, bringing Gaara's body encased in chakra next to her. A dim greenish glow that lit the Chamber strangely illuminated her bright green eyes, as well as the twenty-five elder's eyes. She examined the chamber for a bit, before speaking, "…that is considering it was you who had me sealed away to begin with…"

Her glowing eyes pierced the old man's eyes that reflected the same color.

"Isn't that right?"

Reiko bowed again.

"Please excuse our – my actions of so many years before… it was necessary."

Something flickered in Yoshiko's eyes.

"Necessary… you say?"

Within an instant, she formed a long spike out of chakra and threw it into the wall several millimeters away from Reiko's head.

"…That… is necessary," she spoke into the eerie calm.

Reiko remained in his respectful state, not showing the slightest bit of fear that the young girl had come close to slaughtering him.

"It is my wrong, Yoshiko-dono… We sought to preserve you."

The girl slouched into the seat.

"Whatever…," she muttered as her eyes traveled to the figure of the unconscious boy next to her, "And about this child…"

The rest of the elders, who had been slightly shaken by the girl's unpredictable actions, settled down as Reiko took his seat.

"This boy – what is his name?" Yoshiko spoke, unceremoniously dropping Gaara onto the hard, cold floor.

"Sabaku no Gaara," Kume spoke from his throne next to Reiko.

Yoshiko narrowed her eyes.

"Gaara…" she said, testing it. The name felt familiar, as it easily rolled off her tongue and created a warmer feeling within her body. It was a feeling that she did not welcome. For a moment, she felt herself being lost into a void that was frightening – a void that consumed all time and space. Words echoed against the timeless gap.

You… You don't remember?

The elders must have been lying to you…

They would lie to you so they can use you!

I… I don't want them to use you…

Yoshiko shuddered, bringing herself out of the void. Whatever that boy had to do with the soul that was once in control of her body was something she didn't like. And whatever she didn't like had to go.

Reiko watched seemingly fascinated at the reaction the girl had to his name – her bright green eyes seemed to fade in and out in the dim lights, however, he rose respectfully when Yoshiko suddenly stood.

"Take him away from here," she spoke in short breaths, "I don't want him anywhere near me. Bring him back to where he belongs."

The chakra surrounding Gaara melted away into her bracelets as she rushed out of the Chamber.

Kume looked over to their leader.

"Reiko?" he looked at him questioningly.

The elderly man bowed his head.

"Have the shadows take him back to his home," he commanded as he slowly lowered himself back into his seat, "We'll just find another time."

Kume nodded as he bowed and back away, proceeding to leave the Elder's Chamber.

Gaara leaned in against the wind. He sat alone again on the rooftop of the Kazekage's office, his back facing the moon as he had done so many years ago. A summer's midnight breeze swept its way across the rooftops of the Kazekagure, softly brushing against the pale-skinned boy as it went by.

Days had passed, as he had slowly emerged from his dark room. He had begun eating again – but not much. Eating seemed to be one of the farthest things in his mind. He had returned to his usual unstable self, losing his temper easily and giving murderous glares everywhere. He still talked little, but it hadn't stopped Kankuro and Temari from trying. Gaara knew that none of this was their fault, which resulted in him sulking on the rooftops again, in order to preserve his caring siblings. However, Temari had left a week ago for her mission; Kankuro wasn't about to approach him when he was like this.

'After all… I can only blame myself for this happening… I hadn't stopped it.'

Again, the sudden urge to spill blood or destroy something came surging throughout his bloodstreams. His hands gripped the cement, trying to suppress the monster within him.

BLOOD. I WANT BLOOD!, the demon within him screeched.

Gaara grabbed his head, trying to force Shukaku away, but the demon just screamed louder. His eyes grew wide when he realized what the demon was seeking. From his lofty spot on the roof, Gaara could see a group of people moving through the streets. They were cloaked in dark robes, except for one figure in the middle of the group who wore a white robe.

His eyes narrowed – the movements of the group was quick as they seemed to be heading towards the hospital nearby.

BLOOD! BLOOD!, Shukaku screamed in his mind.

For a moment, Gaara thought he had seen long brown tresses – her tresses. Crying with glee at the split moment of Gaara's unawareness, Shukaku took his chance. Suddenly, Gaara felt his body falling towards the earth. Just as he was about to hit the ground, sand swept up all around him, encasing his right arm and creating a tail. A second later, he found himself racing through the streets at a terrifying speed. Gaara felt his all senses being swept away by the overpowering need to shed blood.

Sixty yards away, on yet another rooftop closer to the moving group, a young man stood watching. So much had changed during his period of absence – especially that monster. The news of her return had brought him here in a hurry.

He crouched down lower on the rooftop. Slightly afraid and slightly bemused, he kept one eye on the group heading in his direction and another on the charging half-boy-half-something like monstrous beast. He had to keep a sharp eye on what was about to happen. It would prove whether he was ready for the task that lay ahead of him.

"Yoshiko-dono, please hurry."

Bright green eyes glanced back up at the dark, hazy figure of Kume. Things were becoming fuzzy while the world seemed to be spinning. Yoshiko blinked again. Six other dark figures shifted about in their encircling formation as they hurried along the empty streets.

"Idiot…" Yoshiko spoke under her breath. It was his fault that they weren't going as fast as they could. 'Old fart…'

Kume glanced back at the unsteady figure of Yoshiko. He silently cursed at himself – if anything happened to the girl, the blame would fall upon his head. Three days had passed since Yoshiko's return from her mission in the Mist Country. She had returned practically unscathed, except for a small gash on her shoulder that was almost healed. Kume, the elder in charge of Yoshiko's well-being, passed the recovering wound off as nothing and reported to Reiko that Yoshiko was completely fine. It wasn't until today that Kume realized as Yoshiko collapsed in the hallway that his inspection was flawed. Now, in the dark of the night, without telling the head elder, Kume hurried their princess out of the doctor-less estate to get her to the hospital before her condition worsened.

His small, beady green eyes darted about in search of some unwanted intruder. His pace quickened when the roof of the hospital came into sight.

'I guess we'll be alright,' he thought to himself, visibly relaxing as they neared the hospital.

As the group stepped into the wide street that the hospital was located on, a strong gust of wind swept through the road.

Kume turned his head towards the direction the wind had come from, having not expected any strong gusts at all. Only such an unexpected wind could bring foreboding disasters. Behind him, he heard a soft thump as he turned to see Yoshiko fall to the ground. Suddenly, he sensed that there was someone – 'No, something,' he thought – there with them.

Turning his head to face the wind again, his green eyes widened with fright as the thing that had caused the wind flew towards him.

Yoshiko lay on the ground, watching the dark world fade into a black nothingness.

Her unstableness overpowered her as the wind blew harder and harder.

As she struggled to keep conscious, she saw flashes of black, red, white, and…

'Sand?'

The girl faded in and out of consciousness, hearing screams and shouts, not knowing if they came from her or someone else.

The last thing that she saw before her was the reddened scene.

'Blood?'

Her eyes closed.

'Is it mine?'

She felt herself drifting away.

'Funny… it doesn't hurt anymore…'

Somewhere, in the distance, she heard a strange, yet familiar voice calling her name.