Break Up

"I want to break up with you. I release you."

A lump formed in my throat. "My time alone gave me some time to think, and I realized how much of a spoiled child I've been lately. All I've ever done is whine and complain about things, instead of getting them done. Gaara, I'm posessed by one of the tailed demons, the four tailed Moon Dragon. My mom was posessed by it, and so was my grandmother and so on. All the way back up until the Edo Period. When we turn 23, the Moon Dragon completely takes over. For this reason, my hometown, The Hidden Sky Village, has always feared the Kichino Clan, even the males, although they had nothing to do with this curse. We have been secluded from the rest of the village, but for fear of revenge, we weren't allowed onto the Earth.

"One day, my. . .my mom. . .she turned 23. It was her birthday, but there were no celebrations. She asked me to kill her, right then and there. But I-I. . .couldnt' do it. I sat there and cried with the knife in my hand. Sure, I was only 6, but I still could have done it. I could have murdered my mother and saved the village, but I didn't. I was too afraid. Afraid of my mother, and the other villagers. In the end, she destroyed over half of my village and disappeared, where she was later captured by Orochimaru. Now she has rotted away in some damn tube!"

My fist shook. A tear rolled down my eye. Even though I had lost the memory of the one smile, I still remembered those, and they stil tore into my heart. "So, Gaara, I. . .don't want to cling onto you, like I did to my mother. Like I'm doing right now, to my past. You shouldn't associate yourself with me. I don't want to hold you down. So, Gaara, I'm going to have to say good-bye, this time. I won't bother you again. The deal is off." I wiped my eyes and then smiled just before turning away.

"Wait!"

I flicked my head around. The red headed boy stared back at me. His eyebrows knitted. "I still haven't told you my truth yet."

I smiled faintly. I sat down in one of the chairs, as did he.

"We are similar, for we both are posessed by one of the tailed demons. I am the Shukaku, the one tailed demon."

"I see, so, you too, are hated in your village because of this."

"It's not as bad as you think. Only the adults know."

"But still, if the adults treat you with contempt, then the children will take after them too, even if they don't have a reason."

"I don't need your pity!"

His loud voice startled me. I had never seen him with such an expression on his face before. It kind of scared me. "Ah, I-I'm sorry. How rude of me." I got up and walked towards the window. "Well, I said what I wanted to say. So, from here on out, I want bother you anymore." I turned around and winked with a forced smile. "Besides, I want you to come to me of your own will. Ja ne!" Before he could respond I did my jutsu and hopped out of the window and out of sight.

I undid my jutsu and walked back to where TenTen was, but was surprised to find her talking with some strange girl with short, dark blue hair. TenTen noticed me and said, "Oh, you're back, look who I met! What a coincidence, eh?"

I looked at her strangely, "What do you mean? Who is she?"

"Sarafu, you're such an idiot!" she yelled at me as she hooked me across the left cheek.

As I flew back I thought, Hey! I recognize that voice! I recovered from the blow dealt me and hugged the girl, exclaiming, "Hinako! Yay! I'm so happy to see you!"

She seemed dumbfounded. "You are?"

I hugged her tighter. "Yes! I missed everyone."

"Um. . .Sarafu, what exactly happened to you while you were gone. You're hair's longer."

"You too! You're hair's-ummm-different. And you're ears! What kind of fight did you get into?"

Hinako sighed. "It wasn't a fight; it was Mr. Kyo."

I patted her back with pity. "Oh, you poor, poor thing. At least it's just your head."

"I know. I know. But don't try to change the subject! What went through you're head? Who said you could leave with Orochimaru!?!"

TenTen looked at me. "What?! Orochimaru?!"

I smiled sheepishly. "Ah, eh. . .you see, uh, well. . .You too, huh? Why does everyone know what I did without me even telling them?"

"It's because you're an emotional idiot."

"Thanks," I said with great sarcasm.

"What happened when you were with Orochimaru?"

I tried to avoid the question. "Oh hey, look, Gaara's coming this way!" I turned toward him energetically and waved with a broad smile on my face. "Hey, Gaara!"

When he walked up to us he said, "You guys are still here? How can you be so energetic, Sarafu?"

My smile broadened. "Because I can look upon you're beautiful face!"

He didn't answer, but just stared at me with a slightly blank look.

Hinako noticed, but before she could say anything I butted in. "Hey, Hinako, did you know that Gaara has become the next Kazekage?"

She sighed. "I know. Don't try to change the subject. Answer my question."

"What question?" I said innocently.

"Dammit, Sarafu!" Hinako gripped my shoulders tightly. "What the hell did he do to you?! What happened?! Tell me everything!"

I was silent in my surprise. Hinako had never made such an outburst before, it was disturbing. "What on earth are you talking about?"

"Don't play coy with me! I know that you went to Orochimaru, and no one can just leave. What happened?"

I looked down to hide my face. "I. . .I nearly died. What else?"

Gasps resonated through the group. Even Gaara looked at me with some worry. "What do you mean?"

"W-when I went there, I found my mother was rotting away in some test tube. Orochimaru had me fight a boy named Uchiha Sasuke, so that he could steal my techniques."

"Sasuke?" Hinako shook me. "Are you sure?"

"Y-yes," I was startled. "Who is he, anyway?"

Hinako looked grave. "My brother."

My mouth fell open as I stared in shock. Hinako has a brother? I heard the entire Uchiha Clan was destroyed, while Hinako was away, except for one boy. Could Sasuke be this boy?

"What else happened?" TenTen asked.

"Well, he was surprisingly strong, and even when I was under the influence of the Moon Dragon, he still beat me, using a technique he called the 'chidori'."

Everyone looked at me as though I was a ghost. "Ch-Chidori?!"

I put my hand over my chest. "Yes, he stabbed his hand through me, but, luckily, Takuro was there, and he used one of the Bells on Life to heal me, just as I was on the brink of death."

"What did you forget?" Hinako asked, almost out of the blue. When I didn't answer she inquired further. "Or do you even know?"

"Takuro told me. He said I forgot my mother's smile, but-" I turned towards them with an extremely forced smile "-you can't weep that which you don't know the value of. I don't remember how much I treasured it, so I'm okay. There's no need for you to make that look. I'm fine. Really. The one who should be pitied here is you, Hinako. I hate to say this, but from the way your brother fought, I don't think there's any possibility of getting him back. He was so. . .cold. He felt almost, no, worse than Orochimaru. So much vibrating hatred! It was oppresive."

Hinako looked at me with deep sunken eyes. I really didn't like this conversation so I excused us from Gaara and we left the village.

...to be continued.