IMPORTANT: The rating of this story is going up to R- (or M) due to abuse (which is obvious), language and…other stuff. I'm sorry for any inconvenience this may cause for anyone.
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Drifting off in Thoughts of you
Chapter Four- Midnight of Pain
"Why the Hell are you still in bed?" Nori asked, glaring at Ai. Ai looked up at her father. Her hair covered the side of her face where the bruise had become more visible.
She stayed silent and looked down at her hands.
"Nee-Chan, I brought you some dinner-," Natsumi stopped talking when she noticed that her father was in her room. She bowed her head quickly.
"Welcome home, O-tou-San…" she said quietly. Nori glared at Natsumi and the tray of food she was holding. He grabbed the tray from her hands and threw it against the wall. Natsumi flinched and looked at the food on the ground.
"O-tou-San, why did you do that?" Natsumi asked, getting angry.
"That idiot has to learn," he began, pointing at Ai. "She's not getting any food for a week!" he shouted angrily.
"O-tou-San, that's not fair!" Natsumi yelled, glaring at her father.
Ai raised her head and looked at her sister. Her gaze ran over to her father and she noticed his fists clenching.
"Imouto-Chan, leave it," Ai muttered.
Natsumi turned her head quickly and stared at Ai.
"But, Nee-Chan-!"
"I said leave it," Ai said firmly. Natsumi turned her head away from her sister and father. Nori smirked and left the room, slamming the door behind him.
Natsumi continued looking away.
"Nee-Chan… Why did you stop me? It's not fair!"
Ai sighed and looked back at her hands.
"It's alright… I'm not hungry…"
"But you will be!" Natsumi shouted back.
"Get down here and start making dinner, both of you- now!" Their father's voice echoed angrily.
Ai swung her legs over the bed slowly and stood up shakily.
"Nee-Chan, don't stand up! You need your rest," Natsumi said quickly. Ai looked up at Natsumi.
"It's alright, I can walk," she replied with a smile. Ai walked past Natsumi, who stared at her. Natsumi's eyes began stinging.
"Come on, Imouto-Chan; let's get started on dinner," Ai said as she walked towards the stairs. Natsumi sighed and picked up the food that fell. Ai waited for Natsumi, and they walked down the stairs together.
Ai ignored the growing pain as she walked.
"What took you so long? We're down here, hungry! Now hurry up and make dinner!" Nori shouted.
Ai and Natsumi nodded and quickly ran into the kitchen.
Ai and Natsumi cooked in a comfortable silence.
"Ichiro is staying for a week," Ai spoke up quietly. Natsumi dropped a pan and stared at Ai, wide-eyed.
"He's staying here? For a week- with us?"
Ai nodded and continued cooking.
"That little piece of-…"
"Little piece of what?"
Ai and Natsumi turned around to see Ichiro looking at them angrily. Natsumi glared at him and opened her mouth.
"Little piece of shi-"
"Imouto-Chan, finish cooking," Ai said quickly.
Natsumi picked up the pan that she dropped and put it away. Ichiro stood with his arms crossed as his eyes roamed over Ai's body. Ai shifted uncomfortably in her spot, but tried to ignore Ichiro. Natsumi looked at Ichiro through the corner of her eyes and turned around to face him.
"We're trying to cook- would you mind leaving?" Natsumi asked angrily.
"Why don't you make me, you little whore-"
Ai picked up a bowl of flour and dumped it over Ichiro's head.
"Oh, how clumsy of me- well, it looks like you should go clean up," Ai said with a smile. Ichiro glared at her and stalked out of the kitchen.
Natsumi laughed and grinned at her older sister.
"Thank you, Nee-Chan," she said with a smile.
"What is going on here?"
Ai and Natsumi turned to see their grandmother behind them.
"Sobo, you're back," Ai said, her smile falling a bit.
Their grandmother smiled and nodded.
"I just came to check up on Ichiro," she began. "But I should get going, take care you two," their grandmother added as she waved and walked out of the kitchen.
Ai and Natsumi turned around and finished cooking.
"What the Hell is taking so long?"
Their father walked in, glaring at them.
"We just finished, O-tou-San," Natsumi said, putting the food on the table.
"Finally," he muttered angrily as he walked out of the kitchen. Ai and Natsumi glanced at each other and finished setting the table.
Ai sat on her sister's bed and looked out the window to see the sun setting. She sighed quietly as she heard her father talking loudly with Ichiro.
Ai got up from her seat and walked over to the window. Her gaze ran down to the children running on the street, laughing and saying their goodbyes to their friends. Ai touched the window softly, allowing her eyes to run to the Kazekage's office. Ai leaned her side against the window and continued looking at the office, in the distance. A faraway look settled in her eyes. Gaara's name and voice began echoing in her mind. She shut her eyes and put her hands over her chest.
"Nee-Chan," Natsumi said quietly.
Ai turned and looked at her younger sister. She smiled and sat back on the bed.
"I'll sleep in your room tonight; O-tou-San doesn't want us in the same room," Natsumi added quickly. Ai nodded and lay back in bed. Her stomach growled quietly. Natsumi raised her eyebrow.
"Don't worry, I wouldn't be eating anyway," Ai said, covering herself with her sister's blanket.
Natsumi nodded and bid her sister goodnight. She turned off the lights and closed the door as she walked into Ai's bedroom.
Ai tossed and turned.
"It's midnight…" she said quietly. Ai sat up and winced as the pain came flooding back. She turned and got off her bed. She walked to the window shakily and looked out. Ai shut her eyes again and put her hands against the left side of her chest. She dropped to her knees and lowered her head. After a few moments, she opened her eyes. Her bottom lip quivered slightly.
'Gaara-Kun…'
Ai raised her head and looked up at the moon. She got up from her spot on the ground and ran to the bedroom door. She turned the knob.
'The door's locked,' she thought, still trying to open the door. Ai raised her hand and hit the door. She sank to her knees again and held her head.
'Gaara-Kun…'
Her hands ran to her chest again. Her heart began to ache as a few tears fell from her eyes.
'I love you,' she thought as a sob escaped from her mouth.
"I love you so much," she whispered.
Ai wrapped her arms around herself and allowed herself to fall on her side. She closed her eyes as Gaara's image ran through her mind.
Natsumi sat against the wall and heard her sister's sobs. She looked up at the ceiling and sighed. She touched the wall lightly and closed her eyes.
"I know how you feel, Nee-Chan," she began quietly. "I'm in love too…"
Natsumi pulled out a picture from her pillow case and looked at it. Kankuro and Natsumi sat together in the picture, smiling at the camera.
'We'll find them, Nee-Chan… I know we will…'
I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
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