Here we are, Chapter 5! This is the continuation of the funeral, and some other stuff. Thank you all my reviewers, I love you all. (But not that way.)
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Gaara still had his arm around Ai, and she was cuddled close to him, the cool night air rustling their clothes. They watched as a torch was brought out, and was put dangerously close to the bodies of Ai's parents. The councilman who was holding the torch intentionally let the flame catch onto the flowers and bodies, setting them ablaze. The sight could be called beautiful, the orange flames dancing in the wind. Ai let the last of her tears roll out, and hugged Gaara even closer. The flesh of her parents was reduced to cinders, and their ashes were blown away by the wind. They seemed to disappear into the night sky, morphing in with the stars. "Now they've gone off to their star island." Ai thought serenely. The funeral was over, and she sighed resignedly.
Gaara looked at Ai, she had a peaceful expressionon her face, and her tears dried, no longer falling from her blue eyes.
"Hold on tight. I want you to see something." He told her. She nodded and wrapped her arms around his neck. He pulled sand around them, and they disappeared.
When they re-appeared, they were no longer in the cemetery. They were on top of a rooftop, the full moon shining brightly.
"Wow. I-it's really pretty up here." Ai murmured.
"I always come up here at night." He said solemnly.
"Why? Don't you sleep?"
"No." He said bluntly.
"Why not?" She inquired.
"I thought I already told you."
"Oh-oh yeah..." She blushed. "I'm sorry Gaara-kun. But I should go home now."
"Right. Goodbye Ai-chan." He sighed. Ai slid off the roof, and walked home, the wind blowing the windchimes outside a nearby house. "I'm glad that Gaara-kun was there for me." Ai thought. "Wait a second! Why do I always call him that… And did he call me 'chan'?!" She decided to brush it off and go home.
When she arrived home, a pang shot through her heart. She remembered the blood she saw in her parents' room just hours earlier. 'This house… It's full of too much pain. I can't stay here…' She thought mournfully. She decided that living alone would cause even more pain. 'Maybe Mae could let me stay with her.' She rushed into the kitchen and called up Mae. One ring passed. Then two. On the third one, Mae picked up.
"Hello?" Mae answered.
"Yeah, Mae... Could I stay with you for a while?" Ai asked nervously.
"Erm, why?"
"My house has too many bad memories." She stated softly.
"Oh… hold on, let me ask my parents." There was a long pause. "My mom says it's fine if you stay for a month or two, there's enough room in the guest room."
"Th-thank you."
"No problem, just pack your things and I'll stop by." Ai hung up, and rushed to her room. She dug up a couple of bags, and filled the first one with her clothes, a towel, a tube of toothpaste, and other necessities. The second she filled with some of her inexpensive jewelry, her headband, a picture of her parents, and a few things from her desk and dresser. The third she put some weapons in and a bunch of notebooks. Then she realized that she couldn't leave her mother's clothing, because she needed it for training and missions. So she forced herself into the bedroom, and kept her eyes in front of her. That's when the blood flashed before her eyes, and it was still splattered everywhere. She collapsed onto her knees, the blood staining her kimono. She tried to regain her balance by lifting her up with her hands on the ground, but they slipped, and she fell over on her back trembling. She lay there, the blood drenching her, but she was paralyzed by the memory of their bodies, and the genjutsu nightmare from training the day before. She had now become trapped in her own personal hell.
Mae pounded on the door. 'I hope she's alright' she thought. Deciding that Ai must've tripped or something, she slid the door open. "Ai?" She called. Mae received no response, so she looked down hallways and into rooms. She walked into one room that looked like it could have been Ai's, but it was empty. She continued down, and spotted an open door. She decided that Ai was in there, and walked in. The horror was displayed before her eyes, blood splashed everywhere, and Ai was lying trembling amongst it. "Ai?" she asked worriedly.
"Help..." Ai begged.
"Oh my God." She knelt down and pulled her quivering friend up. "What happened?" Ai explained to Mae how she fell and what she needed from the room. "Okay, you go get your bags, I'll get the clothes." Mae went over the closet, and took as much of the clothing as she could fit in the bag, and walked into the hallway where Ai was waiting. The two then walked out of the house, and over to Mae's.
Alright, chapter completed. Yeah, I know it probably sucked eggs, and was short, but anyways, review, or else I might die! Or not. Who knows? Just review please!