Chapter two: Live not alone

The waxing moon glimmered in a half beam down at Sabaku no Gaara. He, taking this as a mocking smirk, glared at the moon's happiness attempting to kill it with a bone chilling stare. But the moon remained, as most moon's do, in it's place in the sky. It's cheeky smile calling to him, crater eyes twinkling, melodic voice chanting a lullaby.

Oh how sleep beckoned him, yet he could not heed its loving whine. Stars winked mischievously as if they knew something he didn't, why did everything have to be so happy when he was in a living hell? And what of that girl earlier, did she realize who she was talking to? What she said? Or it could be another ploy that the devil concocted to cause him more suffering. Hell, he didn't even know why he was putting so much thought into this. No one truly, sincerely meant it when they said 'It's nice to meet you.' To anyone, let alone him, but…with her it seemed sincere enough.

Yet her face plagued his thoughts, her gentle smile caressing what he thought was an empty hole. The warm feeling came back and vanished, it left him wanting.

--

The grayish tiles of the roof chinked as a pair of feet crashed onto them. More clattering, before the person took a leap landing behind him. A groan, and the thump of a body as it hit the stone and then something heated pressed against his back. An annoyed grunt resonated from his chest, usually whoever it was would pick themselves up and run for their pitiful lives but the warmth remained. It groaned again, and shifted. He knew this, the girl, her heat, her touch, it was her. Twisting his head to peer at the thing, he saw it was indeed the wench from before.

Her silver hair worked as a sheen covering her lightly brown tinted skin. One aqua eye cracked open, sparing him a glance. Before her face was engulfed in rosy shades of embarrassment. That's what it was called, right? "What do you want?"

"I'm so sorry. Gomen Nasai." The black tee she was sporting, crinkled upward, exposing a bit of her abdomen, Gaara found his eyes drawn to the exposed flesh his flaming gaze caressed the normally unseen skin. Ena's body released a noticeable shiver as she tucked some of her hair behind her ear, she simultaneously sat up on her posterior. "I, um, didn't know this roof was already taken." She teased the edge of her red fabric shorts, in frustration at herself. Gaara took in the fact there were crude purpling bruises on her arms, legs and a newly made red mark on her cheek. Her eyes held fear but of something -no- someone else not him, yet she was blissfully unaware that a mass murderer was who she associated herself with.

She intrigued him greatly, what an understatement. Why did she not avoid his gaze when he stared into her eyes, did she not sense the murderous aura that accompanied him? Smell the stench of blood and corpses that rotted in his soul. Why did he suddenly not want to maim this girl and watch her hobble around recklessly before he stopped playing and finished his sick game? Shukaku did not call to him and did not answer his questions.

The sand in the gourd did not shift restlessly or plead with him to fulfill it's thirst for blood, why? Maybe that over excitable boy's blood was what it wanted, all it's attention was focused on the fuzzy brows. The grains rustled as he thought of the boy.

Her body slipped again as she tried to put a polite distance between them, only to be rewarded by crashing headlong into Gaara , her chest making unwanted contact with him. Her arms pressed softly against his, her bare touch made him feel nakedly open, he hated it and craved it.

To feel exposed, releasing unrestrained wants and desires to an individual without worry of assassination, his human soul was deprived of this and it ached with a fire to retrieve it, as her fingers brushed innocently along his muscular arms. Gaara felt his body shiver against his will.

The back of his head shielded itself from her forehead colliding into his. Breaking the spell of contact between the two.

Her temple bled slightly, as she pulled away. Her fingers reaching up to assess the damage. She growled, but then the growl transformed into a laugh at herself, he was bewildered by her laughter yet felt sick to his stomach seeing her blood. Why? He'd always enjoyed the crimson liquid as it filtered through his fingers and drifted to the sand. Why did her blood cause him ill feelings?

Finally, she successfully moved to the side and looked at him. All the while, he studied her movements with a straight face. "I heard that you were Gaara from Sunagure, correct? I'm Ena, remember?" He looked away, refocusing his attentions on the velvet sky, a nod was what she received. She smiled showing her teeth to him, bright eyes reflecting the moon rays. She was excited over something, what it was he knew not. "I like the stars too. They remind me that I'm not alone…even when all else fails, they're something that's just there and will be for years to come."

Gaara propped up his knee and rested an arm on it, red hair lifted by the breeze swirling into his eyes. The chimes answered before him with their gentle ringing, she turned her gaze for a moment to look at them, a sad expression on her face before she returned her attentions to him. "They offer me no comfort. They do not make me feel alive." He rumbled in monotone. The girl, tilted her head confused. "Then why do you look to them?" He offered no reply, only another question. "Why are you here?"

Sighing, Ena figured Gaara wasn't much of a talker, but she couldn't help but be drawn into that mysterious feeling he gave off. "My father wasn't pleased with my triumph at the exams, and he wants me to complete a mission I wish I didn't have. He told me he needed to cool off so he ordered me out of the hotel room."

There was something else there too that repelled her, murder, blood lust, most of all hate. To fill the void of silence that was sucking in her thoughts she spoke before the words escaped her grasp. "Gomen Nasai, I didn't mean to fall onto you at the Chunnin preliminaries. Yet….I'm glad…." She paused to chew on her bottom lip. "That I got to meet you, even if it wasn't the greatest first impression I could've given you. Well, I-I have to go. I'll see you later, Gaara-san!" He diverted his focus just in time, to see her receding figure hop over the peak of the rooftop below him.

There it was again, that weird tug and warm sensation massaging the usual ache in his chest. It was odd, he touched the area and the feeling dissipated, but he liked the way it took some of the pain with it, unbeknownst to him it was the feeling of friendship.

His head was shocked to reality when pain needled his brain. Clutching a handful of his cerise locks Gaara growled coarsely, it was animalistic and grew from deep within his chest.

He would kill her next time.

--

There were at least six 'next times'. Each at night, on the roof. But something always stopped him when the sand was creeping around behind her back to wrap around her neck silently and snap it, her words…she always knew exactly what to say, as if she'd planned it. Though he knew by now from studying her personality and behaviors that she wasn't the type of person to lie or plan words in advance.

He'd seen her sometimes in the daylight, conversing with the Hyuuga in the hospital after she had visited Lee. Just out of curiosity he'd followed her with his third eye one day. She had run about town doing errands, then she trained in a wooded arena. In silent combat until her legs gave out from exhaustion and a chuunin from Kumo took her back to the hotel. His hair was of the same coloring as hers but glistened with a bluish tint when he moved. He'd kissed her on the forehead and lifted her off the marred earth. Gaara clenched his fist during this moment, a feeling of sorrow clenching his chest .

He still called her girl or woman, even wench, but he never could bring himself to address her as Ena or even by her last name Watanabe. That would be far too personal and mean that he accepted her, which he had convinced himself he didn't and was just bidding his time for the perfect kill for her, after he had explained her out of the norm activities. There were far too many unanswered queries, and Gaara chose to end them.

On the seventh day of their meetings, there was a full moon. Tonight, tonight would be perfect for her, she'd see his true form before her inevitable demise then he'd see her utter disgust and hate of him. But why did he have to make it perfect? Gaara shook his head to rid the thoughts from his mind, the round ball of silvery essence frowned at him, seemingly angry with his decision. A wind picked up, she was somewhere near, a tad far off but still near enough for the breezes that followed her to reach him. She was upset, the air was harsher than the usual caressing touch of spring's breath.

She was incredibly late, usually the girl would be here by now. He was officially, pissed without even knowing why. He blinked hearing footsteps on the tile, locking his eyes on the sound ninja; his chest tightened. It's blood was rushing through his veins at a rapid pace begging for blood of any kind.

"This was unexpected…Do you not sleep?" The gray attired nin drawled out.

"What do you want?" Gaara wanted to save his energy to kill a certain female, but the anger was building too fast and the blood was calling him. "I was thinking of killing you right here, right now. Then, I'll have a higher possibility of fighting Sasuke-kun. I know of your sand attacks. Shall we see which is faster, your sand or my sound?" He chuckled darkly and lifted an overly long sleeve to reveal the sound expelling equipment.

The beast within Gaara clawed it's way out, a long demonic arm flexed it's claws to replace his arm and hand. The club tail of Shukaku forced itself out, coiling at his feet, enclosed in the sand Gaara's body was not his own. The curved nose and yellow pupils replaced his face, vein like teal lines littered the body of the monster. The raccoon demon was out.

"What are you?!" Were the nin's last words.

Claws lashed out, bearing into the adversary tearing muscle from bone. Flesh from muscle and organs from the inside out. The monster soaked the spatter into itself, sponging away the enemy. Curling inward, the dastardly creature disappeared leaving an exhausted Gaara in its wake. The destruction of the building was minimal, a large scoop had been gouged out, dust twisted and plumed through the air, but it was still standing.

Sound nin…elimated.

Kneeling before the carved area, Gaara's chest heaved his eyes were bloodshot and bulging. A sheen of sweat covered his body, his mouth salivated from exertion. Calming his heart beat he turned his head, to see Ena. Crouched and unmoving. He sensed her fear, the scent was too familiar to miss.

He saw her leap, and clumsily land in front of him, a scroll in her hand falling to the ground far below. A salty odor clung to her as well as her blood, she approached in calculated steps. Her presence pressed down on him with a weight different from any other he had felt. Then, came her intoxicating touch, her fingers reaching out to him locking onto his shirt, small hand gripping the chest area of his shirt the other on his shoulder. Her cheek was wet and soaked through his layers of clothing as her chin dropped to her chest, "I was so…" She hiccupped, "…scared...when I saw the genin coming towards you. He had murdering intent. I was scared…" Ena's voiced cracked with tears.

Gaara tensed in his state of subdued shock, and felt his heart surge with pain, disappointment. Had he expected her to act any different than the others? "…that I might lose you. Then I saw…" she gripped him tighter while continuing, the handfuls of his shirt in her grasp grew larger, pulling towards her slightly the top of her head pressing onto his chest. The contact made the beast roar with anger, and Gaara anticipated what she would say next, but he was wrong. "…What happened. The Shukaku took over. And I was scared that I had already lost you to him, but…you came back to me." She sighed, and hiccupped once more before releasing him slowly.

Ena backed away slightly sniffling, her sapphire irises reflecting his handsome face that contained a grimace. She was indeed afraid of what lay dormant inside of him…but he was too, yet she showed no signs of hatred. Her fingers brushed lightly against his exposed neck and a feeling of confusion enveloped him, he was shaking inwardly, the touch had ignited something within. What did it all mean? "Why do you not fear me?"

"I…I…don't know…I just…I just feel this understanding…for you."

She smiled up at him as he stood, she rose to her feet also. Unaware of Gaara's impending annoyance, as the raccoon fueled it by whispering unreasonable answers that set fire to his anger. She thinks you're weak… And that was the last straw. But why wouldn't Shukaku come out and kill her?

I want you too, little one.

Why?

She is not afraid of you. She knows I am strong, but it is you who she believes is powerless. Bring her to me. Her blood is what I thirst for…it is purer than the rest.

I will obey you, mother.

His sand flashed out, sparkling in the moonlit air. It clinched her shins, Ena's head snapped towards him with shock and confusion written on her face. "Gaara-san? Why?" She asked innocently, as the sand constricted painfully. Bringing her to her knees, he saw the blood from earlier that he sensed, it covered her chest, a small kunai protruded from her right shoulder a hidden mist kunai. He portrayed no shock but that didn't mean it wasn't there. Pulling the object from her person, he examined it. Yes it was definitely a mist kunai, the make was different than the rest a small mist insignia carved on the handle affirmed his suspicions. But why was it in her? Had she attempted to attack the mist nin and protect him? His stomach lurched uncontrollably and bile rose in his throat at the sight of her blood, he saw her wince visibly.

She cried before, why not now? Puzzled, he made the sand tighten its hold on her. The wench grunted, a sickening crack resounded, one of her bones had broken, yet she did not scream or beg. "Gaara-san, I don't understand. You're my friend, aren't you?"

Gaara dropped the knife receding a few steps, glaring at her. "I love only myself and fight only for myself. You are nothing to me." Her eyes searched him in an effort to discover the cause of his hate, her gaze rested on his light turquoise orbs.

"I may mean nothing to you…but you mean something to me Sabaku no Gaara!" She exclaimed. Slamming her fists to the tiles in front of her. "If you only love yourself why do you stay awake at night? Instead of letting the Shukaku run rampant and kill. Why did you not kill me on the first night that I encountered you?" She raised her head proudly, Gaara looked questioningly at the girl. "How do you know of Shukaku?"

She refused to answer, another crack and her second leg was broken. Ena grunted once more, and the sand began to dye red with her blood, then it soon engulfed her kneecaps. "You are my friend, and because that is the truth. I truly, madly, deeply love you. Sabaku no Gaara." Her eyes were dark with her blunt honesty and emotional pain. "I know this because everything that lives; lives not alone nor for itself. Therefore, you mean everything to me. Like Hina-chan and Lee-san."

Searing electrifying pain singed his brain and the sand retracted, he gasped out a breath, it was stronger than ever before. Like an awakening memory long forgotten, attempting to resurface. Ena's face blinked in and out of his mind, forcing him to kneel before the image then it changed to that of Yashamaru. The burning in his chest intensified from its usual tingle, the words which she had spoken echoed in his mind. I truly, madly, deeply love you, Sabaku no Gaara. His eyes rolled in their sockets in his confusion, his soul was writhing in agony trying to remember something long gone.

If he killed her it would stop, just like it had with Yashamaru. Focusing as hard as he could to ignore the pain, he stared at the bloody area where the girl had fallen. Ena was gone, wait no-he saw her arm disappear over the edge of the building. Conjuring up some sand he reached for her. But she was gone.

"Damn bastard! How could you do this to Esu-chan?" Gaara pivoted as the pain slowly began to subside. The chunnin from before, the one that had kissed Ena on the head. An angry expression covered his face as his gray eyes bore into Gaara's skull. "Why did you do this? She…she never did anything to you, bastard!" He snarled, cradling the limp heroine in his sinewy arms. So he was her brother…

The girl smiled, "Hey onii-san…" The man's eyes softened towards his little sister. "Don't hurt him please…."

"But Esu-chan…he hurt you…"

Gaara studied this altercation with interest, his siblings had never been so…so caring. They despised his existence, as far as he knew and hadn't changed their views. His lips curled into a smirk, "I'll kill you both…" The sand leaked out from his gourd once more toward the pair.

"No!" Ena shrieked coarsely as her brother took a fighting stance, Gaara paused for a moment, before his main weapon continued its course. "Please, onii-san." And with that they were gone in a poof of smoke.

Gaara's eyes narrowed, his molten hair whipped about his pale emotionless facade as the moonlight pounded against his back, a feeling of loss encroached upon his heart.