It was a little while later when Gaara finally came too. I was sitting by his bed waiting for him to wake up.
"Finally you are up. I have been waiting for three days now. Jeez I didn't hit you that hard. Did I?"
I said as Gaara opened his eyes. He looked at me not with eyes of a monster but with that of the little boy I saw in the flash back. Though it looked like he still wasn't sure what to do with himself
"Why didn't you kill me? ...What's my purpose?"
He said looking at the ceiling as if looking past it and into the sky. I looked at him and said.
"How am I supposed to know what your purpose is? It's up to you to decide what that is not me… just makes sure it's not killing people to feel alive like it is now. You can usually tell if it's a good purpose by the people's reactions to it."
Gaara looked back at me sadly and asked
"What's your purpose?"
I looked at him as I thought of this question though I was a little confused about what he meant.
"Well I guess it's to help my friends and keep them safe."
He looked confused at this and spoke again more to himself.
"Friends? I have never had friends. When I was younger I tried to but everyone shunned me. I use to think they would only make me weak. I fought for only myself and loved only myself..."
"Look, see this?"
I said as I raised my left hand to show him my reveres Triforce.
"This is my Triforce. Each triangle represents something. The represents top is power, the left is courage, and the right is wisdom. Now see that seemingly empty triangle? That is me it glows strongest when I feel this feeling. That feeling is bonding and friendship. Without it all the other triangles would fall apart. Friendship is the glue that keeps all these things together. I know it must have been hard as a child being so different. I bet they were even afraid of you hu? But you can't let what a bunch of kids do affect you. Kids are stupid and are easily scared. I already told you I will be your friend. Just keep trying and eventually they will accept you. I will do my best in the time I have left here to help you and make sure you are happy."
I said before Aaron came in. Aaron decided it was time to strike and look for the leader our self instead of waiting for them to just show up. Gaara looked at me as if he wanted to tell me something but was unable to get it out of his mouth.
"See you later Gaara. I'll be back. Don't worry… I'll be there for you. After all we are friends now right? Make sure you behave for the nice Doctor."
It was now nearing the end of the Chunin exam and the world had become darker and darker like Kingdom Hearts. It was almost time for the final part of the test when the leaf ninja had gotten a report of an Orochimaru sighting. We followed the ninja to where it was. We chased after them quietly as possible all the way into the woods outside of the village. An hour had passed with us following the ninja when they all stopped and turned back.
"What are you three doing out here shouldn't you be at the Chunin exam by now?"
Kakashi questioned as he appeared before us. He was one of the ninjas out looking for him. Aaron thinking quickly said
"We were told to follow you guys as part of the exam."
"Who told you this?"
Kakashi asked suspiciously
"The first proctor did. He came to our place and told us to follow you guys."
Kakashi believed Aaron and went on.
"We just got a call on the radio. It was an alert to return back to the village… we're under attack. Can I count on you three for support?"
The three of us looked at each other realizing that the Manifest had been planning to eliminate as much of our back up as they could before we returned.
'Shit! They won't last much longer without us there. Fuck!'
I thought before saying,
"Most defiantly, but we need to get back there, fast!"
"Agreed, let's go."
Kakashi said as we followed him back.
We were nearly back and we could see smoke arising from the village. The, oh so familiar black fog coated the ground as well,
"We're too late."
Midna cry out as we came to the front gate only to hear the sound of battle still raging around us. It seemed that they were doing just fine by themselves, at least with handling the Manifest larva, but what of the Leader? I could almost feel it. I could feel that the leader was in the battle somewhere.
"Let's rock!"
Aaron roared as he started to play a quick passed song. We went into battle and soon found that the leaf ninja where on their last legs and we had arrived just in time. It was like Kingdom Hearts all over again. I was having flash backs of every one staying back give us a head start.
"We have to find the leader fast."
I yelled as I landed near Aaron who was fighting off the Manifest ninja
.
"Yeah, but where is it?"
Aaron said before starting a long rift. I looked around as I fought off the Manifest. I saw the leaf ninja fighting off the Larva with all they had. I saw Naruto along with Rock Lee protecting Sakura. Sasuke was taking on twelve Manifest ninja at once. Midna was fighting alongside Kakashi, but sill no Leader. I was not even sure if there was one here until I saw it. My mouth dropped along with Aarons .
"Is that… It is. Tyler!"
I shouted as I started for him. Midna and Aaron followed close behind. Tyler had what looked like a yellow light sabers out and was fighting Orochimaru. Tyler was surrounded by snakes and had to keep hacking away just to keep from getting swallowed up. I drop kicked Orochimaru in the face and landed back to back with Tyler.
"Finally you guys made it! I was scared that I would have to kill it all by myself."
Tyler chuckled as he sent fire balls at Orochimaru who was not really doing much but dodging Tyler's attacks and sending snakes at us. The leader didn't seem to like fighting. He let his Larva and the snakes he summoned do most of the work.
"What are you doing here Tyler?"
Aaron sang as he continued to play rift after rift of random songs.
"Looks like Tyler passed his test."
Midna said with a wink,
"Yup!"
Tyler said as we continued to fight off more and more ninja,
"How was it?"
Aaron asked blasting more Manifest away with a wave of water.
"…I don't wanna talk about it."
Tyler said getting the chills. Aaron laughed knowing what he meant. Tyler turned to me and said
"You're so lucky you didn't have to do it Stuart. Anyways let's get this guy and get out of here."
I agreed and we began to surround him. We needed to do it fast so he couldn't escape. We all went for him at once. I was running along the giant snake's body that if sent at me and was the first to reach him. I brought my sword down on its head only to realize that I had been stopped by a wall of sand. It surrounded the Leader and sent all four of us flying off.
"It seems you have returned with your new body. What took you so long Vex?"
Orochimaru said in a very familiar voice, but I couldn't put my finger on whose it was. Gaara body soon appeared in front of Orochimaru and hissed in an equally disturbing voice.
"Sorry master, I must have been having a little too much fun. This one was a real fighter. He was so much fun to play with that I lost track of time."
That voice was also familiar. It sent a chill threw my spine because I knew who Orochimaru was and I had a suspicion of who this Vex was that had taken Gaara body, though I almost didn't want to believe it.
"That voice? It can't be… Zephon!"
I shouted as I charged him once again only to be sent flying by Vex who continued to pound me with sand. Tyler caught me as I fell and set me down next to Midna. Zephon looked at us with a wide snake like smile and said
"Stuart I didn't expect to see you so soon… oh look, it seems everyone is here. Hello Aaron long time no see, how's the hand?"
"It's fine see!"
Aaron snarled as he flipped off Zephon.
"Now is that any way to act towards an old friend? Why don't you be more polite like Midna here?"
Zephon said as he started to snicker in the calm but malicious voice. Midna looked up at him.
"Up yours, Zephon!"
Midna said flipping him off as well making Aaron chuckle. Gaara's sand came out of nowhere and would have killed Midna if it wasn't for her magic. She had created a bubble shield around herself and just sniggered as the sand did absolutely nothing to her. He continued to attack us having his sand do all the work. He seemed to be focused on Midna. I helped Midna avoid the sand as much as possible though her shield did most of the work.
"Get out of Gaara you bastard!"
I screamed as I went to attack Vex. The sand however was much faster now that Gaara was possessed.
"But why? His pain and suffering feels so good…Oo! It gives me such a warm fuzzy feeling inside just thinking about it. Want to know the best part of it? Do ya? Do ya?"
Vex giggled excitedly with a twisted smile that seemed eerily familiar.
"I chose him because of how hard you TRIED to save him. The last thing he said was that you would come to save him. He cried out for you as I stole his body. He was helpless to stop me as I tore through his soul. Don't worry I made it as painful as possible just so he would know he was alive still Hehehe. His body is mine and it's all your fault! Hahahaha! "
Vex said with a face of utter glee in my pain. I was getting angrier with every word Vex said. My Demon blood began to boil my eyes turned blood red as I change to devil trigger. I had completely lost it.
"SON OF A BITCH, I'm gonna cut your fucking tong out of your head so you will SHUT THE FUCK UP!"
I yelled as I attacked Vex not realizing what I was doing. My blade clashed with his sand. The friction caused my sword to glow red with the heat. Eventually it got so hot that it turned the sand I struck into dangerous glass that shatter back at me. Tyler and Aaron were fighting off Orochimaru's snakes and Midna was focusing on keeping the Manifest larva at bay.
"You are suck an idiot just like everyone says. Stabbing me won't do anything to hurt me just like last time. As you can see I am fine even from our first encounter."
I stopped attacking him.
"What do you mean by 'last time'? Wait it was you. You were in that Kabuto kid's body weren't you?"
I said as I was forced to go on the defensive.
"That's right. Hehehe. You see it now don't you… the only way to me is threw Gaara."
Vex said as he continued to smile maliciously at me.
"You're lying! Gaara you have to get free! Wake up man, don't let him control you!"
I shouted trying to get through to Gaara. Vex laughed at me and spoke as more of his sand kept me busy.
"He can't respond. I have complete control over his body, but feel free to keep talking I am letting him listen in and watch as he will be killed by his "only friend" as he put it. It's quit sad really… I love it so. He fought so hard to protect the village, all because of what you told him, even after he was ordered to destroy it."
I realize what he was doing to me. All this seems so familiar to me. The putting my friends against me and making me second guess myself. I looked at Gaara's face. Seeing the twisted smile gave me all the reassurance I needed to know I was right.
"You where the one from my dreams!"
"You just realized this? Yes and your subconscious is so fun to play with, you know that? All that doubt, though it is nothing compared to the pain that Gaara feels."
Vex said as he kept Gaara's sand attacking me. Suddenly I felt something around my leg. It was his sand. It picked me up and slammed me against the walls and ground. The only way I was holding onto Alastor was my wall sticking power from Spider-man. I felt it slowly moving up my leg but there was nothing I could do to stop it. I was being flung around to fast to get my arms near my feet. Suddenly I felt an intense head around my leg and I stopped swinging. The sand had been glassed by Tyler who was running on top of the sand towards Vex. His light sabers out in front ready for a final blow.
"No Tyler, stop!"
I shouted making Tyler turn and get knocked away by Gaara's sand.
"What was that for Stuart? I could've gotten him."
Tyler gritted his teeth as he stood up.
"We can't kill Gaara. I made a promise to help him that I would keep him safe!"
I said as I broke the glassed sand that still held me. I landed in a patch of sand that nearly swallowed me up.
"Damn it Stuart! What are we going to do then?"
Tyler said as he sent more fire at Gaara's sand. He was making a thick wall of glass. The glass shattered sending thick pieces of it into Tyler. He roared in pain as he took the biggest chunks out of his arm. His suit got right to healing it and soon had his arm back in working order. Tyler was like a tank with how he could just endure pain like that. Tyler fancying himself to be somewhat of a vampire and trying to be cocky licked his own blood of the shard.
"That the best you got?"
Tyler sneered as he continued to pull chunks of glass out of himself. He had defiantly gotten a little more bad-ass since the last time I saw him.
"Enough of this child's play lets have some really fun."
Vex said as he drew all of his sand around him. It was just like in my fight with Gaara. The only difference was that Vex was laughing threw all of this and seemed to get a great satisfaction from the pain Gaara must be feeling. He was completely covered in sand now and didn't seem to be stopping where Gaara did. He kept getting more and more sand to form around him. I looked around for more help but the only people I saw were Aaron and Midna and there were still fighting off Zephon.
I prepared for the oncoming attack. I looked up as the sand continued to combine making a giant sand monster. The sand was turning black as it came close to Vex.
I gritted my teeth as the sand finally stopped building. It was a wicked looking monster that towered over us. It must have been as big as Godzilla. It glared at us with sharp claws and fangs, though it was just another demon to me. All I cared about was saving Gaara. I would have to keep on my tows just to avoid getting killed. I had to think of something and quick or else all of us would be dead.
"You ready?"
I say to Tyler as the fully formed Vex sand demon arose. I could see where Gaara's real body was. His upper half showed threw the head of the demon. It looked as though he was sleeping.
"We have to get Gaara away from the sand. Hear that Gaara we're coming to help you!"
I said to Tyler as I pointed him out.
"You got it!"
Tyler said as the sand Vex demon stood up fully.
"Hehe… Ah that tingled. That was really painful for Gaara. I love it. Now let's see what I can do with this body."
The giant monster boomed as it came for us crushing buildings under it. Tyler and I both jumped up on his air blast he sent at us. I cut away at the little sand spike tentacles that came at us from the ground
"Let's get rid of this pesky sand!"
Tyler bellowed as he ran around his arm near its shoulder. His feet left a trail of fire that hardened the sand into glass. As he finished encircling the arm he kicked off it, shattering the glass. The whole arm fell to the ground in a pile of normal sand. I ran along the opposite arm of the monster. The sand wasn't exactly solid enough to run on which made me slow down a lot. I wasn't fast enough to avoid getting stopped by the sand I ran on. It was like trying to ruin on water. I was pulled into the arm its self. With the last little bit of air I had I yelled out
"REFLEGA!"
A protective shell came up around me and moments after it send out and explosion that sent sand flying ever direction. I broke the arm off that had captured me and jumped from the head. I grabbed Gaara's hand and pulled at him. I started to free him when he moved. Vex took control back over Gaara's body temporarily and punched me. I was sent flying to the ground next to Tyler.
"Get out of Gaara you son of a bitch!"
I said as the giant monster screamed in pain.
"Never, it's much to fun in here! Keep hurting me I love it! Hahahaha."
Vex said as he gathered more sand to grow a new arm back.
"Stuart what are we going to do? We have to take him out! He's not leaving us much of a choice!"
Tyler said as we fought off more sand tentacles. I couldn't do that because Gaara didn't deserve to be killed after just realizing he wasn't alone. I tried to think of another way to save Gaara but with Vex still inside him there was no way.
"No we can't do that to Gaara!"
I yelled as I avoided even more sand.
"Play time is over!"
Vex said as he swung his arms at Tyler and me. He was too fast to avoid this time and my reflective magic would be able to stop something like a ton of sand coming down on my head. I shut my eyes and waited for the worse. I could hear Midna screaming.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
A few seconds past and I felt nothing. I opened my eyes and saw the sand monster apparently writhing in pain. It was clawing and tearing away at its self as if it was trying to get something off of it. I was confused and as I looked at Tyler who had the same expression as I did. I then heard something that sent a shiver down my spine.
"Do it… Stuart you have to kill me…"
It was Gaara. He was in serious pain from what I could see. He too was clawing away at his arms. They were bleeding profusely but it didn't seem to stop him. He kept raking away at his arms as if he wanted to feel the pain.
"Gaara, no I can't!"
I pleaded to Gaara.
"You must… There is no other way… Do it and protect your friends and let me do the same… You told me to find a purpose and I did… to save as many lives as I can to make up for the ones I took. I don't know any other way to do it so you must do it for me. Now do it fast. I won't be able to…. Aghhhhhhhhhhh!"
Gaara screamed in pain, but Vex's voice came out right after.
"Clever boy, using physical pain to gain control! Looks like I gave him too much freedom."
I knew what I must do now. I had to do it… for Gaara. He knew that he wouldn't be able to be saved. I felt the rage building up inside of me once again. I would have to make it fast as possible so Gaara would not suffer. I went back into devil trigger mode and looked up at Vex coldly with my blood red eyes.
"…Tyler… Go and help Midna... He's mine!"
I said with a tone I have never heard myself use. I almost sounded like a Manifest witch scared me.
"Done."
Tyler nodded as he jumped off to help Midna who had killed nearly every Manifest larva left alive by now. I looked up at Gaara's now limp body, then at the sand demon. The writhing black and tan sand swirled showing that the entire thing was alive. Even the Sand monster had a snide grin to match the one Vex always wore. I hated Vex even more than I hated Zephon. Zephon was evil but I couldn't even think of a word to describe how I felt about Vex. I said nothing as wings burst from my back and I soared at Gaara's now limp body. It was the first time I had flown but that didn't stop me. I darted from left to right, up to down, side to side avoiding every last bit of sand that Vex sent at me. I had Alastor ready for the final blow I would make it fast as possible buy stopping Gaara's heart. I made it but the last little bit of sand sent my sword off cores though not by much. Instead of going threw his heart my sword plunged into Gaara's belly.
"Gaara!"
I muttered as I saw his eyes go back to normal and any evidence of Vex disappear. I tried to pull my sword out but Gaara pulled it in deeper. I looked at him desperately with my demonic eyes. I didn't want him to die even if he would just come back to life after I left.
"It's not over… he's still here…inside me… you have to end it!"
Gaara coughed up blood as he pulled it deeper still.
"…Gaara…"
I said softly as I watched the life slowly drain from his eyes.
"Stuart… (Cough blood) did I do good?"
Gaara said as he finally closed his eyes. The sand monster began to deteriorate and fall apart. I pulled Gaara's body away from the falling sand and landed on the ground. My rage had subsided momentarily.
"Yeah, you did a good Gaara… You did good…"
I said to Gaara as I took my sword out of him. A dark vapor came out of the cut just like it did when I killed Duma. He looked so peaceful now. I couldn't take any more of looking at him. I set his body down and leaped to where the others where. They landed next to me. All of the larva had been destroyed. Only Zephon remained. But he looked neither scared nor worried. He began to clap as he floated there.
"Bravo…bravo indeed. I would expect nothing less of you Stuart. Killing a friend to get what you want. Very good, just what I would expect from someone like you… Remember this… you are a very special boy to me and my brethren. "
I had no idea what he was saying but he knew something about me that I didn't. But I really didn't care. I was enraged.
I went straight at Zephon with my demonic claws not bothering to use any weapons. I was so fast that even he did not see me coming. Like last time I had pulled out the monster inside of the character. Orochimaru's body fell limp to the ground as I held it. But this time it was no puppet with a mask. It was a man… in a mask. He looked much like a vampiric angel, his long black hair contrasted to his white mask. This was the true Zephon. I began to crush his throat much like Vex did in my dreams. An ironic death, but I was kicked out of the way. It was Vex in his true from as well. The devilish looking boy stood there with an evil smile. He was toying with me still. I didn't kill him. All I had done was wonder him. He still bore the hole where my sword had been. Though he was obviously injured he was just playing with me like I was an idiot.
"It seems that we have underestimated you once again. Stuart my friend, it looks like I will have to wait a bit longer. Good bye my little friends. I am glad we could have this little chat. I hope to see you soon, now let's be off Vex."
Zephon said as they disappeared into a portal. He got away once again and I was powerless to stop him. I felt my body get dizzy again but kept myself from falling. My world was spinning and I felt sick. But it wasn't from the fight. I fell to my knees. I slammed my fist into the ground as hard as I could. I formed a small crater by the time I was done beating the ground. I began to cry with anger and hatred of myself. I shouted as I closed my eyes trying to force what had happened out.
"God dam it, I'm so useless! I can't even save my friends. I killed him… it's my fault Gaara's dead… and he died for no reason. He trusted me and I killed him…What now?"