Shail: Heh… I hope everyone noticed my new name…
Anyways the long awaited chapter is coming up! Please enjoy!
I decided Kiriko as the name because you originate from Kirigakure.
Also, because I received a PM from a person who is currently watching the English version, I'll explain the honorifics:
san: is the equivalent to mister or miss. It is the term best used for people you have just met or someone older than you.
Han: is exactly the same as san, only its with a country accent
kun: is an affectionate honorific that is usually used for boys. It is considered polite to use –kun after a girls name. eg; Sakura always uses –kun after Sasuke's name.
chan: is an affectionate honorific that is usually used for girls. Boys who are far younger in age can be called chan. Eg; Naruto almost always uses –chan after Sakura's name.
sama: is an honorific used for someone respected or higher rank. In bishoujo manga (girl comics) sama can be used for someone who is good looking and liked a lot. Eg; Kabuto always uses –sama after Orochimaru's name.
danna: is an the equivalent to master or husband. It is seldom used anymore. Eg; Deidara uses –danna after Sasori's name. (people not reading the manga will not know who these characters are)
dono: is exactly the same as danna only with a country accent.
Ouji: It means prince
Hime: It means princess
There we are. Of there are any other honorifics or title's your not sure about pm me or review and I'll explain. Hai means yes, Iie means no. I think that's all the Japanese I'm using in this chapter… so Yay! I'm not using all the honorifics though :P
"Otokono-dono. We're bringing her tonight."
"Don't call me that, idiot…" There was a brief pause. "I know you want her back more than I do…but don't you dare touch her."
There was nothing but silence. "Do you understand?"
"Y-Yes sir… I wouldn't dream of it… "
The teen sovereign glared at the middle-aged man. "Many of the other workers believe you are the one who killed my brother. If you fail to return her unscathed I will no longer hesitate with your execution."
"Yes sir." The older man disappeared leaving the young master with a watchful samurai listening carefully from a rice paper door.
"I'll follow him and report when he is dead."
Blood. Rich, gushing, crimson. Life. The younger or more fierce an opponent, the sweeter. Like the baby he had stolen from its parents. They cried bloody murder when they saw the sand surround theyr newborn, squirming under his grasp. Just as the man he was feasting on now.
He wasn't old, but he wasn't young either. Probably the same age as Baki.
Sometimes mother had a greedy lust for sweets, while sometimes, she preferred the bitter, coppery taste of an adult.
It wasn't that he liked to kill- well, that was a lie. He loved to kill. But he didn't find causing people to feel anguish deliciously exciting- nor did it whet his appetite. So when he killed, it was swift and painless. He killed because it kept him sane (if he could call himself that). Blood had a unique flavor, he noticed, so he craved it as often as his mother.
He bounced along the sandy rooftops, a soft tat tat tat occurring after each step on the gritty surface.
He wondered if Kiriko had followed him. 'Probably not… She's afraid of me too.'
She allowed a small smile to grace her lips. Avoiding fresh cracks in the empty road, made, no doubt, by her beloved master, she followed the dusty trail of scattered sandy patches. Despite the fact that it was Gaara she was following, all she could think of was her former master, Yoko.
Long, pale hair, graceful smile… Nothing like the young man she now served.
"Kiriko-chan…?" He had asked you. You shook, horrified by sight before you. "Y-Yoko-sama…"
His body was crushed; he started to spit up blood. The explosion had torn down the entire front building. The mist outside was strong and potent, so you knew it was not a stray spark that lit the fireworks.
A small touch on your left cheek triggered more tears to fall. The hand fell almost as soon as it grazed your face. But you knew it was meant to be a caress. "You'll find someone. You are-" The man screamed in pain, another chunk of the dismantling pillar falling over him.
Otokono, the younger of the brothers decided to usher the girl away. "Wait! Yoko-sama!"
"He's gone." She heard a voice say. "We have to leave before the entire lobby collapses on us."
Kiriko's eyes grew blank, as though all life had been taken away from them. "Gone?"
Kiriko sniffled a bit at the memory she re-lived. A flash of the tall goofy man, who had smiled at her like no other, entered her mind. She didn't realize she had been crying until a gust of wind sent a sharp chill through her face. "Master…" she sighed out, before climbing atop a ladder in the back entrance ally of Suna's only bar.
She finally reached the tp and shivered as another gust of sand was rushed passed her. Kiriko walked along the rooftop and looked over to some of the other buildings, hoping to see more of Gaara's trail.
But instead, she found the young sand master himself. He was about on the road, about 10 meters north of her. There was another man in front of her liege. He was tall, and had a bandana covering the majority of his hair. The moonlight shown on his face, making him look pale. The man appeared to be drunk as his liquor canteen was dripping.
She saw the mans lips move for a moment and then, as if in turn, Gaara's did as well.
It continued like this for a few minutes, in which time, Kiriko used to come closer. She edged the roof and ducked behind the large boiler.
She still couldn't hear what they were saying, but she could hear their voices.
She had also heard a clinking sound by the ladder, but dismissed it as a desert rat's prowling. And even if she were to investigate, her attention was brought back to Gaara and the stranger. There was the sound of rapid footsteps and storming sand.
The man became tangled in her master's web. He struggled profusely.
Gaara had mumbled something to the stranger, his hand shakily erect, fingers locked stiffly.
The sand constricted, blood pouring itself in every which way. The blood went so far that when Gaara ordered the sand to absorb the blood of the tall drunk man, it even climbed over her- taking the horrified tears from her face. She wanted to scream, but needed to stay quiet.
She looked down after the sand had left her –Gaara was gone.
She scrambled to her feet. 'No doubt he tast- sensed me! The talisman is still glowing but…'
"Scary person, isn't he Kiriko?"
'That voice…' "Let him die!"
Kiriko turned to face one of her past co-workers. "M-Makizawa-san?"
The man bowed and gave her a smile. "We're going back to Kirigakure. Now. You'll never need to serve that freakish prince again."
"Go back? But Y-… he's dead. I don't serve that house anymore. And my contract has been signed. So I cant go…" She mumbled the last sentence guiltily.
"Otokono wants you. So tear the contract up. We're going." In an instant, the man had the girls wrist in on of his hands.
"I don't serve Otokono-sama, Makizawa-san. I serve master Gaara. And unless he sets me free… I can't leave."
A frown and a growl. "You will return! I need you and I don't intend to be executed for treason. Now move!" He roughly tugged her.
They neared the ladder, Makizawa's free hand on the hilt of his sword. "Hurry and get down."
Kiriko paused before glaring up at the man. "You don't need me. And why would you be charged with treason?"
"Why? What do you think happened in the feudal lords lobby Kiriko?" A small grin grew on his face. He inched closer to her.
"You killed Yoko-sama? How could you! And you still serve the feudal house!"
"That's right." He mumbled. His fingers squeezed her wrist tighter. "That's why I have to bring you back. Besides, having you around again won't be so bad." A twisted smirk replaced his grin.
"No!" The girl shouted out. "I have a contract! I belong to Gaara!"
Makizawa frowned darkly. "Let me see the contract."
"G…Gaara-sama has it. And even if it was destroyed… I…" She blushed, a shy look brightening her face. "I would stay with him."
The samurai in front of her couldn't believe it. "You would stay with that monster?"
He gripped her by the front of her shirt and lifted her up. "Why the hell would you want to stay with that demon? Do you know who that is!"
"His name is Gaara. And he isn't a monster!"
"He is! There is an evil apparition inside his body! The kage's seem to have a new trend. Sealing demons into their children."
She turned her head and whimpered. "I love him."
Makizawa's eyes were wide. " You … you love him?"
Kiriko shook from the mans sudden outburst. Her hands easily ripping the others off her.
She winced when the bright blue light of the glowing bands faded. "Master…"
Gaara was there, he had pure rag on his face and a hand gripping his head.
"Demon…" The rurouni whispered.
The red head boy panted, sweat dripping down his body.
"That's enough Makizawa! Gaara-sama-"She yelped in pain when the man sliced he front with his sword.
He muttered a gruff, "I'll kill the monster and take you back." Gaara, however, twitched at the sight and smell of fresh blood.
Sand poured from his gourd and he trembled from excitement. Makizawa crashed the blade at him, sand, of course blocking the blow.
The beige essence knocked the katana from the mans hand, capturing his limbs in the meantime. "What are you doing! This isn't an honorable fight! Your breaking the samurai code!"
More sand surrounded the man's torso, abdomen and neck. " We are ninja… Honour means nothing."
Those were the last words spoken to Makizawa.
Gaara had not let a thing- the sand engulfed it all. Blood, organs, bones, muscle- everything. Kiriko had her eyes closed and shook nearing a nervous breakdown. 'Is he going to kill me too? He's coming closer. This is it. I love you.'
He stepped so he was right in front of Kiriko. "I need you to never lie to me."
She took a startled breath and looked up at her Master. "Gaara-sama… I haven't lied to you. To anyone."
She lifted her hand to wipe some of the left over tears from her face but Gaara slipped a firm hand around her own. "Kiriko-chan," He started quietly.
She felt her blushed grow around her, despite the current environment and event in the past moments. "Hai?"
"Do you really love me?"
She couldn't use her voice. It was gone. Just as was her breath. She nodded her head and smiled a bit sheepishly.
As if a clichéd romance novel (you know what's coming) he leaned close and kissed her. For neither, was it their first kiss. In fact Gaara had kissed her many times over the nights she had slept in his room.
But, it was their first real kiss together.
After that night, Kiriko never called him master.
Ahahaha… Yes yes… I know it's short, cheesy and waaaaaaaaaaay overdue…. But
Honestly this chapter is necessary for the relationship to start. But remember Gaara is not going to be sweet and sappy all the time. From now on I'm going to skip ahead towards the chunnin exams. And you know what? I'm not even going to say –spoilers- for those that are watching the English version. I pity them… but it's not a spoiler anymore. To me anyways.
Besides… I think they are at least up to the part where everyone reaches the tower… right?
Well I'll update when I update Im not promising anymore deadlines… I probably wont meet them. :p
See ya later all!
