I'm back! I'm sorry! Well, I finished this chapter! I hope you guys enjoy it! Happy New Year- I love you guys!
Disclaimer (haven't done this in a while…): I only own my own characters! Everything else belongs to Kishimoto-San!
Drifting off in Thoughts of You
Chapter Ten- Heartache
Ai sat on a chair in the kitchen. Her eyes ran over the words in a large book she was holding.
"Nee-Chan?"
Ai looked up and set the book on the table as Natsumi walked into the kitchen.
"Is something wrong, Imouto-Chan?"
Natsumi shook her head and smiled.
"Okaa-San's fever is coming down- just thought you should know."
Ai nodded and smiled back as she picked up the book again.
"Thank you, Imouto-Chan," Ai said as she continued reading.
"Studying?" Natsumi asked curiously. Ai nodded again.
Natsumi nodded and began making some soup for Arisu.
"Nee-Chan… It's been three days- and O-tou-San hasn't come home yet…"'
Ai closed the book and looked up at her sister's worried face.
"I'm sure he's alright… probably staying with someone else- he'll be home soon," Ai said with a small smile. "I should get going; will you be able to watch Okaa-San?"
Natsumi nodded as Ai walked to the door.
"Imouto-Chan, when O-tou-San comes home- come get me, okay?"
"Okay, take care, Nee-Chan," Natsumi waved as Ai walked out the door.
A tall man stood in the shadows and looked at the young boy angrily.
"What are you saying?"
"It's-…Ichiro…He's dead…"
"Get out…" he muttered angrily.
"But-,"
"Get out, now!"
The young boy ran out of the room quickly and slammed the door behind him. The elderly man sat down and looked around.
'That…damn monster…'
Ai looked around at the villagers as she walked to Temari's house. Her hands held the book in her arms tightly. Her mind began to wander quickly as she stepped up to the house. She froze as she raised her hand.
Gaara moved towards her and pressed his lips against hers firmly.
Ai shook slightly as she lowered her hand. Thoughts of them together continued to flood her mind.
Gaara's hands ran up her cold arms as he pulled her gently towards him.
Ai closed her eyes and pushed the door open. She dropped the book on the ground and ran into a room. She shut the door quickly and slunk to the ground. Ai raised her hand and held it over her chest.
'Don't think like that-…don't…' Ai's thoughts trailed off as she looked up at the ceiling. She shut her eyes quickly as Gaara's face entered her mind again. Ai bit her bottom lip gently and stood up. Her eyes fluttered open as she reached for the doorknob. She pulled the door open and picked up her book.
Ai sat down and shook her head before opening the book and allowing her eyes to wander over the words.
Ai looked up at the clock and smiled. She got up quickly and ran to the kitchen. Ai began humming quietly as she prepared dinner.
Ai…
Ai covered her ears as Gaara's voice entered her mind. She whimpered after a moment of silence as she uncovered her ears shakily.
'Gaara-Kun…' Ai thought as her eyes became watery. She smiled again and looked at the dinner.
She packed the dinner and ran out the door quickly. Ai locked the door behind her and looked up at the setting sun. She held the packed dinner tightly and ran to the Kazekage's office quickly.
Natsumi opened the door as her eyes widened.
"O-tou-San…?"
"Kenji-San," Ai called quietly with a small smile.
Kenji turned around and grinned as Ai walked towards him.
"Is…Kazekage-Sama busy…?"
Kenji shrugged and smiled as he noticed the packed dinner in her arms.
"Not really, no," he said quickly as he walked away from her. Ai blinked and walked up to the double large wooden doors. She hesitated for a moment before opening the door.
Gaara stood looking out the window. Ai stood quietly and looked back at the doors, debating on whether she should leave or not.
"Ai…?"
Ai jumped slightly and looked at Gaara, who looked at her blankly.
"I- I-…um…I b- brought you some d- d- dinner…" Ai said shakily as she raised her hands to show him the packed food. Her eyes ran down to his lips for a moment before she looked away from him. She walked to his desk and put the dinner down before turning around.
"I- I should go… um… B- Bye…Kazekage-Sama…"
Gaara's eyes flickered with a hint of confusion.
Ai bit her lip again and walked towards the door.
"Ai…"
Ai stopped walking and shut her eyes.
"Y- Yes, Kazekage-Sama…?"
A moment of silence passed. Ai opened to see Gaara standing in front of her with the doors closed behind him. She stepped back slightly and looked into his eyes. She held back another whimper and looked away from him. She shut her eyes again tightly.
'Don't… Don't… Gaara-Kun, please don't…'
Gaara touched her hand lightly. Ai flinched as her hand shot back. Gaara looked at her with curiosity and a hint of pain.
"I-…have to go…" Ai said quickly as she opened her eyes and looked at the doors behind him. Gaara touched her hand shakily. Ai stepped away from him and whimpered.
'Please don't…'
"Ai…" Gaara began.
Gaara and raised their heads as they heard muffled yelling.
"Imouto-Chan…?"
Natsumi pushed the doors open, her breathing rapid. She ran towards Ai and grabbed her arm roughly.
"Imouto-Chan, what's going-?"
"We have to go- NOW!"
"Imouto-Chan-!"
Ai was cut off as they ran out of Gaara's office. After a moment of watching the two sisters run away, Gaara followed after them.
"Kazekage-Sama-!" Kenji called. He scratched his head and looked at Gaara's office.
'Strange…'
Ai and Natsumi skidded to a halt before the door. Ai looked down to see a puddle of blood on the ground. Natsumi ran inside.
"Hurry up, Nee-Chan!"
Ai ran inside quickly and followed the trail of blood upstairs. Her eyes wandered before they landed on her father, who lay on the ground with a puddle of blood surrounding him.
"O-tou-San-!"
Arisu sat with his head in her lap, she cried loudly. Nori turned his head slightly and looked at Ai through watery eyes.
"Ai-…"
Ai stepped over the puddles of blood and sat down beside Nori.
"O-tou-San…"
Ai began shaking greatly.
"Help him, Nee-Chan!"
Ai shook her head shakily as chakra ran to her hands.
"No…" Nori croaked.
Water filled Ai's eyes. She put her hands to his chest.
"No more…Ai…"
"Don't worry, O-tou-San- I can help-..."
Ai's lip quivered. She shut her eyes as the chakra shifted to Nori's body. Nori raised his hand and held her arm.
"No…" he croaked again.
Ai looked at the blood that continued to gush out of his body.
"O-tou-San, I can fix it-!"
Chakra continued running over the expanding wound. Nori coughed, bits of blood washed his teeth red. Ai's hands shook rapidly.
Nori smiled faintly.
"Not O-tou-San… I'm not-…"
Ai remained silent as tears ran down her face. Her chakra flickered slightly. Her breath got caught in her throat.
The chakra flickered once again and stopped.
"Nee-Chan…"
She breathed heavily and tried to send more chakra to her hands. Ai whimpered as her hands continued shaking.
"Ai…No more…" Nori said quietly. His eyes began rolling.
"Stay with me…Ai…"
Ai continued whimpering. Her hands stayed above his body. She shakily moved and held his hand tightly.
"O-tou-…San…" Ai lowered her head and allowed it to fall on his wound. He flinched as his body went limp. A sob escaped Arisu's mouth. Natsumi fell to her knees. Ai closed her eyes as tears ran down her face.
Ai sat silently as blood continued to cover her face. She hadn't tried to move for what seemed like an eternity. Hadn't known how much time had passed. She could hear Natsumi's footsteps fading away. She knew that her mother had left long ago, known that she was now asleep. Ai opened her eyes and stared at the wall with a distant look on her face. She had no idea how long ago the tears stopped flowing from her eyes, the only thing she knew was that Nori's body had gotten colder.
"Ai…"
Someone was calling her.
'Gaara-Kun…?"
Ai sighed quietly and closed her eyes again.
"Goodnight…O-tou-San…" Ai said quietly.
Ai felt somebody wrapping their arms around her. It felt familiar. Blood dripped down her face as she was lifted from the ground. She kept her eyes shut. The voice began fading away.
"Gaara-Kun…?" she whispered, before blackness engulfed her mind.
I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Review please!