Destiny of the Cursed
Chapter 20: Shattered into pieces
Whispers and murmurs were exchanged between gossiping nurses and medics.
"Have you heard about the news?"
"Hai! My brother told me about the chaos in town."
"I heard Kazumi-san was involved! And Katana-san too!"
"Katana-san? You mean the Kazekage-sama's assistant?"
"Oh my…I thought that girl was nice…"
All went silent when they heard shouting from inside the said girl's room.
"It wasn't my fault!" Katana angrily slammed her hand on the table beside her bed, causing the water in the glass to spill. "We were sparring when she cheated and stabbed me with a drugged knife!" She was covered in bandages and scratches. Gaara grimaced.
"What is the connection of her stabbing you with a knife to you wrecking half of my village?" he asked harshly.
"The poison was the reason why my body went berserk on its own!" She exclaimed in exasperation.
"That's your reason?" he demanded again.
She gritted her teeth. "I told you, it's not MY fault! Why won't you listen to me?"
"Then let me ask you: Why didn't you listen to me?" he asked back. This time, she had no answer. She looked away guiltily, not wanting to meet his gaze. They stayed like that for a moment, with Gaara waiting for her to say something.
When it was clear that she didn't want to talk, he stood up stiffly from his chair and went out the door, slamming it hard behind him. Katana cringed at the loud 'bang' that emitted from it. She sighed and pulled the covers up her body, not paying attention to the overwhelmed tears that fell while she slept. After that incident at the hospital, Gaara and Katana rarely talked to each other anymore. They would ignore each other all day and night, not caring what happens. It was like neither existed to the other.
The only time they would acknowledge the other's presence was when they argued. They fought over little things and minor mistakes. Temari and Kankuro were beginning to be worried for them.
One night when Gaara was particularly tired from all the extra work, another one of their childish fights broke off. At dinner. While Temari and Kankuro were there. And how the two wished they weren't.
"What the hell did I do wrong this time?" demanded Katana. She was tired of this routine. It was always like this. Gaara glared. "Perhaps you would know if you just listened." Katana's fists shook in rage. "How can anyone hear you talking when your voice is barely above a whisper, you nitwit?" Kankuro paled and sent Temari a look. They had never called each other names before.
"What was that?" hissed Gaara, his hand twitching.
"Look who's not listening now." She remarked sarcastically. He snorted and crossed his arms over his chest.
"You're a pathetic excuse for a shinobi." That was when things got more intense. Kankuro mentally face palmed. 'Oh shit, he crossed the line.'
"Oh, I'm pathetic?" Katana scoffed. "And what do you call yourself? Great? You're a worse jerk that I took you for!"
"Jerk? If you didn't bother me so much, I wouldn't even act this way towards you!" he shouted, something Temari and Kankuro hadn't seen in a very long time. The usually passive Gaara was getting pissed off at a girl's mistake?
"Bother you? I wasn't doing anything!" Katana shot up from her seat.
"Here you go again, acting all innocent!" Gaara rose abruptly as well. Temari stood up with them, raising her hands in their faces. "Sit down, both of you!" she ordered. Even though Gaara is the Kazekage and Katana is a deadly sword mistress, she didn't care anymore. They were acting far worse than any three-year old. Gaara glared again before sitting down. Katana, with an indignant huff turned away and took her seat.
They didn't seem to like the idea of Temari one bit, but they complied, more or less.
The wind mistress sighed. "Will you listen to yourselves?" she said in a softer tone. "You two are barely acting your ages."
"And your titles." Added Kankuro, standing up as well. "Is this how the Kazekage acts? What would the villagers say Gaara?" he asked. Gaara remained emotionless, but his older brother could see the embarrassment in his eyes.
He turned to Katana. "And you, what would Naruto say? I thought you were better than this, Katana." The girl looked down in shame. Temari sighed again. "Now, will you two forgive each other?" she offered.
As Katana was about to speak up, Gaara pushed back his chair and climbed upstairs. A groan escaped the older girl's mouth. "He's really stubborn at times, right Kankuro?" The boy nodded in agreement. Both of them turned to Katana, who became awfully quiet. Without a sound, she stood up and marched upstairs. Temari and Kankuro followed her with their eyes and even heard her slam the door.
"Really, Kankuro…" murmured Temari, piling the dirty plates and scraping off the unfinished meal, "I think it's time that we asked Gaara his reason why he's acting this way." Kankuro propped up his arms on top of the table. "I dunno, Tem. This isn't really one of their normal fights. You think we should butt in?" Temari opened her mouth, but closed it immediately, forgetting the things she wanted to say.
The sound of the water gushing out of the faucet was the only thing that answered Kankuro. Things were quiet for a while, that was until Temari exclaimed all of a sudden, making Kankuro almost fall out of his chair.
"I've got it!" The tone of her voice went several octaves higher and made Kankuro's ears ring. "Got what, Tem?" he asked curiously, regaining balance. Temari left the dishes and whispered to Kankuro her idea.
Inside her locked room, Katana sat on the middle of her bed, her weapons all around her. "What did I do this time…?" muttered Katana under her breath as she polished her sword. She ran the waxy rag up and down on the thin metal, ridding it of any stains. "All I've been trying to do was to please him…" Setting aside the cloth, she let her nimble fingers caress it, getting a nice smooth feeling under her skin. "So why does it always end in a mess?" This question was left unanswered in her head. Exhaling sadly, she gathered her kunai and put them in a pouch.
She trudged slowly towards her closet, taking out all her clothes and belongings, dumping them unceremoniously inside her bag. For the third time in her life, Katana was running away again. "Sorry Tsunade-sama", she sighed, sitting down again on the edge of her bed, "looks like I've failed a mission once again."
Something on her bedside caught her attention. It was a picture frame, with her and Gaara on it. Katana reached out and grasped the gold frame tightly and with her index finger, she traced out Gaara's figure. "What did I do wrong…Gaara?" When the night ended, Katana was all set and packed, ready to return to Konoha tomorrow morning.
The Next morning…
Temari went over her carefully chosen words again. She took a deep breath and let it out. 'I have to do this or else Gaara's chance will be gone forever.' She reminded herself. She knocked on the wood and became startled by the sudden opening of the door. Katana was staring right at her, carrying several packed bags. Instead of reciting her speech, Temari pointed at the bags.
"Katana, what's the meaning of this?" she asked.
Katana started to walk outside. "I'm going home." It took a minute for Temari to register her words and another minute to grab Katana's hand, run inside her room and bolt the door close. "Y-you can't go—pant, huff— yet. Nu uh." said Temari in panic, blocking the door defensively.
Katana blinked and sighed, her hand massaging her temple lightly. "Please Temari; I don't want my relationship with Gaara to be completely wrecked. My presence is clearly making him infuriated for some reasons. Maybe it's better if I just go back to Konoha." Katana pushed Temari gently, and turned the doorknob. "I'm sorry, Temari."
"Just—just hear me out, okay?" begged Temari. Katana halted and turned to stare into Temari's grayish green eyes in doubt. She wanted to run away from here, away from him. She didn't want to cause him more trouble than she already did. But a part of her, the insane, irrational little voice, told her to stay and listen to Temari.
Mentally beating herself up, she backed away from the door. "I'll give you five minutes." The grin in Temari's face couldn't have been any wider.
The conversation that was supposed to end after five minutes extended into an hour. What Temari had said baffled Katana even more.
Flashback:
Three days before the fight…
"Hey Gaara?" inquired Temari. Her youngest brother didn't react in anyway that indicates that he heard her. She frowned. "Gaara."
With still no reaction, Temari walked over to his side and tapped him on the shoulder. Gaara looked up quickly, before turning his attention on his work again. "Is there something you need, Temari?" The blonde female stared at him as he continued signing. "Well, I kinda wanted to ask…" Hearing her hesitate, Gaara set down his pen and looked at her directly. "Yes?" he asked, motioning for her to continue.
"I wanted to ask you why you—uh— always seem to…avoid Katana." As the certain name rolled off her mouth, she felt Gaara tensed. "W-what do you mean?" he croaked out, his calm demeanor cracking in the slightest.
She shrugged. "Like yesterday, when she just got out of the hospital, you were so cold to her. And unlike before, when she enters the room, you don't even acknowledge her." She pointed out.
He threw his head back and closed his tired eyes. "It's for her own good." He answered.
Temari raised an eyebrow at the reply. "What? How can that be for her good?"
He cracked open one eye. "I'll tell when this thing is over." She blinked dumbly. "What thing?"
Closing his eyes once more, he handed her the document he had been working on.
As Temari read, he stated, "I won't let Katana be punished for what she didn't do…"
End Flashback
"But that doesn't make any sense!" Katana let herself fall backwards on the bed with her hands covering her face. "If he's trying to protect me from something, then why is he doing this to me?"
Temari looked at the confused girl in sympathy. "I know it doesn't…" she admitted, "but it's true. All of what I said is true."
Katana sat up and seemed to be in deep thought. "Temari…" she called. Temari turned to her. "What was the document all about?" she asked. Temari bit her lip. "I can't tell you."
Katana clenched her teeth. "Then how am I supposed to talk to him about it?" Her fiery eyes bore a hole on Temari's forehead. "I don't even understand what he's talking about!"
"You just have to trust in yourself." The older one said. "Please, just give it a shot." She pleaded. Katana again was stuck in her thoughts. So many ideas came in and out of her mind.
She leaned forward, stray brown locks covering her face from Temari's view. Katana's mouth opened. "Alright…"
Wasting no time, she stood up and ran towards Gaara's office. If what Temari said were true… then I still have a chance. Her heart thundered uncontrollably in the confines of her chest, making her breathing irregular. Calm down. She felt as if she could faint from the nervousness anytime now. Make it direct and quick. She slowed her steps as she neared. You can do it… She stared at the wooden door. You have to…!
Without bothering to knock, Katana bursted inside the room.
"Gaara, we need to—!" Grey eyes stared in horror. All remaining hope inside her crumbled down and her pulsing heart stopped dead. "…talk." She ended weakly.
Kazumi sat once again on the Kazekage's desk, her body facing Gaara. But now something was awfully wrong. Gaara's face and hers were close, their lips locked together in a kiss.
The kiss broke slowly, painfully, and Kazumi glared at her, as if she were an unwanted intruder. "What are you doing here?" she sneered. Katana didn't reply, but instead gave her all-out attention to Gaara, her eyes searching his.
"Perfect timing Katana." He said. "I wanted to tell you the news myself." He turned to Kazumi then back to her. "Kazumi here is going to be my new assistant."
Katana couldn't find her voice. The words were lodged in her throat. She was standing there like an idiot, like a lost child controlling herself from sobbing. "I suggest you go back home to Konoha as soon as possible for Kazumi will be occupying your room."
"W-why?" was all Katana can choke out. Gaara shrugged, as if her getting fired was everyday news. "You just weren't any use to me any more. You give me more trouble than help." It stabbed her, Gaara's words.
Katana felt like dying. Kazumi raised an eyebrow. "Well? Are you just gonna stand there all day?" she demanded. "Get going!" Katana stared at Gaara.
The intensity of her eyes faded into dullness. Her shocked expression turned neutral. She bowed, as stiff as a person can be. "Goodbye Gaara-sama." She spat the words out like vomit and turned her back on them.
Glancing back on Gaara for the last time, she saw Kazumi already flirting with him. "I hope you're happy with her…" It was a mere whisper, nothing but a tiny blow in the breeze but Gaara caught it.
Katana rushed to her room and snatched her bags. She didn't even bother to answer Temari or Kankuro when she stormed out of the mansion, running in lightning speed.
The villagers glanced at her, giving her dirty glares and colorful curses. She was outside Suna in just a flash and she continued running, not wanting to rest until she finally reaches Konoha. Every step she took stung her. It hurt more than all the injuries she had. The agony of it was something she had never encountered before.
Fat drops of water came showering down on her as she reached Konoha's borders. "Damn it!" she cursed her rotten luck. Every drop that hit her resembled Gaara's voice.
"You just weren't any use to me any more." She loathed it. She hated how it mocked her, repeating over and over again inside her head. "Quit it!" she yelled at no one. "You hate it…don't you?" It was that voice again. The one she dreamed of. "You hate him…" Katana slipped on a wet tree branch, causing her to fall to the hard ground. Sharp rocks cut her arms and legs, blood mixing with the muddy water. She cringed and wiped her sweaty face with her hand. "He hurt you…He hurt you so bad…" the voice moaned. "Sh-shut up…" Katana whispered; desperation clear in her tone.
"Have your revenge…"
"N-no…"
"Kill him…"
"No."
"Kill him…!"
"NO!" Katana sprung up and ran. She was cold, scared and hurt. Worst of all, she was utterly confused. What was happening to her? As her legs were about to give out in exhaustion, she noticed the Konoha gates, right in front of her. Just a few more steps! She told herself as she ran again. Too eager to finally reach her home, Katana tripped on a rock and collapsed, right in front of two familiar people.
"Katana?" Sakura kneeled down to her level to help up the dead beat tired kunoichi. Katana coughed, feeling the bruises and cuts that she previously ignored. She looked up at her friend. "Sa-Sakura?"
"K-Katana-c-chan?" She turned to the other person. "Hinata…"
At the Konoha Center…
Katana rested underneath the layers of white sheets, her hair covering her face. Naruto's face scrunched up. "Ne, Katana-chan?" he started, fidgeting in his seat. "Why are you a month early on coming home?" The pink-haired girl elbowed him and glared. He panicked. "I-I-I d-don't me-mean that in a b-bad way!" he stuttered. "I'm just curious." Both her teammates waited for her answer. She didn't reply to them and just kept her head low. Sakura gulped before asking. "Did…something bad happen in Suna?"
Again, no reply came from her. Determined to make his friend talk, Naruto took a deep breath and kept in mind that this might be the last thing he will ever say. Knowing Katana, she wouldn't hesitate to kill off anyone who triggers her temper.
"Is it Gaara?" She flinched and he prayed to Kami may she make his death quick and painless. "Yes…" the answer both shocked Naruto and Sakura. The overacting blond jumped off from his seat.
"What? Gaara? Did he hurt you?" He flailed his arms wildly and shook his fist at no one in particular.
"I'll show him! I'll show him! Gah!" Naruto tumbled over due to Sakura's punch. "Baka!" she shouted. "Stop being noisy at the hospital!" She glanced at Katana in evident concern. "What did he do to you?"
Katana raised her head in a slow manner. Her friends stared at her and noticed how her eyes changed.
Her once bright grey eyes shone proudly, like a true Yotsuki, as she would always say. But that moment, her orbs were the complete opposite. Katana's irises were the same color as ashes, fading and lifeless.
There was no spark inside her and no hope remaining for tomorrow.
Sakura realized what was wrong with her friend. Katana was suffering right now the same thing she suffered three years ago. And she knew that it was a deep gash that she could never heal.
"He told me…" Katana stated like a statue, no clear emotion in her raspy voice, "that I wasn't of any use to him anymore…" Naruto couldn't believe his ears. "B-but he'd never say that to anyone!" he exclaimed. "He changed! He changed…right?" She turned to her side and rested her head on the pillow.
"Naruto…Sakura…Please leave me be."
"But Katana—" Naruto protested, but Sakura prevented him.
"I want to be alone." She added.
Sakura let Naruto out of the room and herself as well. For a minute, all Katana could hear was the deafening silence. But then her ears picked up the sound of her heart, shattering like fragile glass.
End Chapter