Disclaimer: I do hereby disclaim all rights and responsibilities for the characters. They belong to their rightful owners.

Warning: Story contains out-of-characterness, grammar mistakes, spelling errors, and typos.

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Chapter Thirteen – Protector

"I-I'm… s-sorry." He choked. Unable to face her, he turned away. He shut his eyes tightly, willing to force the image disappear. His body shook and his fists trembled.

"It's alright," a soft voice whispered. "Everything will be alright."

"NO!" He screamed. "Nothing is alright," hissing the last word. He distanced himself from her. He will only hurt her. He had to distance himself from her… She will be safe as long as he wasn't there. His presence, his very existence will only harm her. She made a move to touch him but he flinched away from her.

"Do NOT touch me! I will only HARM you. Go away! Get away from me…" He very much screeched.

"Gaara… look at me." She said softly, ignoring his cries. She waited but nothing happened. After a long pause, he only shook his head. She sighed. "Gaara."

Very hesitant and reluctant he obliged. He froze. She did not look hurt or hurting for that matter. No wounds. Only blood covered t-shirt and pants. 'How?!' He did not believe his eyes. 'Illusions. Only Illusions.'

"See?" smiled she, and moved closer, lifting her hand and caressed his cheek. Unconsciously, he leaned closer to her touch. "No wounds. No scars. And I am feeling fine."

"But how? How it is possible? I-I did… you… tree…blood…" stuttered Gaara.

"I am not afraid of you."

"I… I-I s-saw fear in your eyes." Gaara said. "I had frightened you… I killed."

Kagome chuckled softly. His eyes widened.

"I am not afraid of you. I was afraid for you. I fear that others might have hurt you. When you saw me, covered in blood, I fear that it might cause you a trauma."

"I-I hurt you. I attacked you. I-"

"Not deliberately. I approached you, who were lost in thoughts, and that had you alarmed," she reasoned.

"I still hurt you, nevertheless," insisted Gaara. Deliberate or not, he had hurt her. It was unforgiveable.

"You can never hurt you. You never will," she added, "you protected me from my attackers. You did not hurt me, you protected me." She gifted him with a smile.

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A/N: I know a little bit late and the chapter was lame... But this is all I have for now. Sorry. ^^; I started working in a hospital just about a month ago.. So, I do not have much time to write. I hope you will bear it with me. Until the next update, Happy Reading!^^