Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ A Time to Love ❯ Sacrifice ( Chapter 7 )

Chapter Seven: Sacrifice

 

Yueri stretched as she awoke in the early morning. She opened her eyes and looked up at Gaara, who leaned against the wall across from her, looking out the window.

 

“It's not even dawn,” she whispered, drawing her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around her legs.

 

“No, it's not.” Gaara looked at Yueri out of the corner of his eye. “You talk in your sleep. You know that, right?”

 

“Oh, no, tell me I didn't,” Yueri gasped in disbelief.

 

“You did.”

 

“What did I say?”

 

“Just my name a lot.”

 

Yueri groaned and grabbed a pillow, placed it on her knees and buried her face in it. “I can't believe it!”

 

Gaara laughed softly. Yueri jerked her head up and looked at him. She blinked as his laughter rang in her ears. It wasn't the psychotic laughter, but pure, delighted laughter. “Wow.”

 

Gaara stopped laughing and looked at her. “What?”

 

“You laughed and it wasn't when you were killing someone. Wow.” Yueri tightened her grip on her legs.

 

“I've changed,” Gaara defended softly.

 

“I know. I've seen the changes and I'm proud of you.”

 

Gaara looked at Yueri. She was smiling softly.

 

“Come sit. You make nervous when you stand.”

 

Gaara sat next to Yueri on the bed and leaned towards her slightly.

 

“Heat and me do not mix,” Yueri groaned as she leaned back to lie on the futon.

 

“I noticed,” Gaara said as he watched her.

 

“It's because of Shishi. She's an ice demon.”

 

“Ah.”

 

Yueri rubbed her eyes and looked up at the ceiling. “For some reason I'm frightened.”

 

“Why?”

 

“I don't know. I just wish I had someone to hold me at night like Nee-san does. She has Shikamaru and Neji. Maybe then the dreams would stop,” Yueri whispered sadly. She sighed and rolled over on her side. “I'm going back to sleep.”

 

“Dreams of what?” Gaara asked turning away from her.

 

“Of death.”

 

Gaara looked at Yueri's back. The delicate dip at her waist indicated her pants size, which Gaara had known for some time. The silk pooled into that dip, resting there. Gaara lied down next to Yueri before wrapping his arms around her thin waist and pulling her against his chest. He heard her take a sharp breath, but he didn't let go.

“Just sleep,” he whispered in her ear. “Morning will arrive soon.”

 

He didn't know if Yueri obeyed him or not, but he heard her breathing even and felt her body relax into his.

 

 

~*~

 

“Wake up already!” Chamomile banged on the bedroom door repeatedly while she yelled.

 

Yueri jerked awake at first. Wide eyed she turned to look at Gaara. Gaara smiled and ruffled her messy bun. Yueri smiled weakly and cuddled closer to Gaara until the door flew open.

 

“GET UP!” Chamomile bellowed. “And you get away from my imooto-san! Or you'll be castrated!”

 

They blinked at Chamomile before edging away from each other. Gaara stood up and coughed into his hand, as Yueri crossed her legs and sat on the bed. “What's with the morning call, Nee-san?”

 

“I'm taking you shopping for new clothes,” Chamomile said as she grabbed Yueri's wrist and yanked her out of bed. “Come on!”

 

“Wait! Why are we going shopping?”

 

“We're going clubbing tonight!”

 

~*~

 

Yueri sat in a booth in a small coffee shop. Bags were piled next to her and Chamomile. “When was the last time we went shopping?” she asked taking a sip of her iced mocha latte ().

 

“Before you left,” Chamomile said as she sipped on her tea.

 

“I actually can't wait till tonight.”

 

“You and Gaara seemed pretty cozy this morning,” Chamomile remarked, smiling wickedly.

 

“I had a hard time sleeping last night,” Yueri defended herself.

 

“Sure.”

 

“Nee-san!”

 

Chamomile shrugged and smiled innocently.

 

“The dreams have returned.” Yueri placed her travel cup down on the table. She felt too warm all of a sudden.

 

“What?” Chamomile swallowed the tea she almost spat out.

 

“They've come back. This time I dreamt of Gaara dying.”

 

Chamomile frowned and touched Yueri's hand. “If he's going to die, you two might as well be happy and together, for however short that time might be.”

 

“Hai, nee-san. But what about Naruto-kun?” Yueri asked.

 

“What about him?”

 

“I care a lot for him as well.”

 

“You're going to have to listen to your heart on that one.”

 

“Hai, nee-san.”

 

~*~

 

Yueri and Chamomile clambered into the house, noisily and happily. Their squeals of laughter alerted Shikamaru, Neji, and Gaara. All of three of which had returned from their shopping much earlier then the girls.

 

“What's so funny?” Shikamaru asked.

 

“Nothing,” the sisters replied at once before running into Chamomile's bedroom.

 

“Get ready, boys!” Chamomile yelled from the door before slamming it shut and locking it.

 

Yueri dumped her bags on the bed next to Chamomile's.

 

“Let's get ready!” Yueri said proudly. Chamomile rolled her eyes.

 

“Hey! You were the one who decided to go shopping,” Yueri pointed out.

 

“Whatever.”

 

~*~

 

 

After an hour of preparation, the rays of sunset streamed in through the window. Chamomile stepped out of the bedroom first. Her wild curls framed her face. A purple shirt screened with a wolf on it was fitted to her torso. Black pants flared out around her ankles to show off black sandals with heels. “Come on, Yueri,” she urged.

 

Yueri came out, shyly as Neji and Shikamaru flocked to Chamomile. Her curls were pulled back into a messy bun, leaving a few tendrils to frame her face. A loose, azure kimono top, embraced with silver dragons, encased her torso and flowed over the waist of a pair of faded jeans, torn artistically in places that flared to show off her flip flops. She looked up at Gaara shyly.

 

“You look…amazing,” he breathed.

 

“Back at you,” Yueri said looking over his attire. Black fishnets covered his arms and collarbone underneath a black t-shirt. His black pants had a skull on one pant leg, above the knee where they had been ripped.

 

“Let's go already!” Chamomile called from the doorway, awaking both from their fantasies.

 

“Coming!” they yelled at the same time.

 

 

~*~

 

The club was crowded and the group had to squeeze into a small booth in the back of it.

 

“I'll get drinks,” Neji volunteered.

 

“Water please!” Yueri called after him as Neji disappeared into the crowd.

 

“Imooto-san, you always drink water. Loosen up!” Chamomile laughed as Shikamaru wrapped his arm around her shoulder

 

“I have an ice demon that has more hormones than I do living inside of me. I get drunk, she takes control, and who knows who I'll jump,” Yueri said leaning against the back of the seat.

 

“Gaara,” Shikamaru and Chamomile said at the same time.

 

“Or Naruto,” Chamomile pointed out.

“I'm insulted!”

 

“You would!” Chamomile laughed.

 

Yueri crossed her arms over her chest and pouted. Shikamaru shook his head as Gaara leaned forward in his seat. Yueri and Gaara locked eyes with each other for a moment before looking away, both blushing.

 

“Are you going to sing?” Chamomile asked, looking at the empty stage at the front of the club.

 

“Sure, why not?” Yueri said. “I'll be back. Gaara, move.”

 

Gaara moved to allow Yueri to slide out of the booth. She maneuvered through the crowds towards the stage. She spoke quickly to a man near the stage and he nodded, placing a CD in the sound system as Yueri leaped onto stage. The adrenaline pumped through her blood as he announced her, calling them all to cheer on an old regular. The microphone felt cold in her hand. No other person had touched it before her. Her voice rang out through the club.

 

“Can you tell me, softly
How you'll always haunt me
Can you help me
Hold me
Come to me now, slowly

You caress me, smoothly
Calm my fears and soothe me
Move your hands across me
Take my worries from me

I will sacrifice
I will sacrifice
All I have in life
To clear my conscience

I will sacrifice
I will sacrifice
All I have in life
Sacrifice, sacrifice

Can you feel me, solely
Deeper still and wholly
With your understanding
And your arms around me

Can you help me
Hold me
Whisper to me, softly
Move your hands across me
Take my worries from me

I will sacrifice
I will sacrifice
All I have in life
To clear my conscience

I will sacrifice
I will sacrifice
All I have in life
Sacrifice, sacrifice

I will sacrifice
Will sacrifice
Will sacrifice
Will sacrifice

I will sacrifice
I will sacrifice
All I have in life
To clear my conscience

I will sacrifice
I will sacrifice
All I have in life
Sacrifice, sacrifice.”

 

 

 

The club had grown extremely still and quiet before a roar of cheer erupted as she jumped down from the stage. Several people patted her on the back and shook her hand as she maneuvered her way through the crowd. She rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly when she made it back to the booth and the music from earlier blared over the club.

 

“That's my little sister!” Chamomile said proudly. She was the only one that was not looking at Yueri as if she was an angel or a demon.

 

“Stop looking at me like that,” she told the boys. “Makes me uncomfortable.”

 

Shikamaru and Neji shook their heads as Gaara continued to stare at her.

 

“Stop it!” Yueri snapped at Gaara. “Stop staring at me!” Before her eyes, Yueri's world transformed into a memory of her past, a memory she had tried to conceal.

 

~*~

 

A four year old girl sat in the middle of a playground. Sand whirled around her ankles as she swung back and forth in her swing, by herself. She looked at the other kids, but they wouldn't look at her. Her short, black curls fell in her then bright emerald eyes. The heat caused sweat to trickle down her neck, but she wouldn't move.

 

She could hear the other children whispering to each other. Every word was clear with clarity, just so she could hear.

 

“That's her.”

 

“That's Atiska Yueri?”

 

“Yeah! Isn't she scary looking?”

 

“She is! I wonder why she always sits there.”

 

“And stares at us…”

 

“Nobody will play with her.”

 

“That's kinda sad.”

 

“Sad, but my mommy says that she has a demon in her. She also said that the girl was evil and everything she touches is cursed.”

 

“That means we can't play on the swings anymore!”

 

“It'll be worth it.”

 

The children looked up to stare at Yueri as she looked up at them. They stood up. In her mind, the older Yueri could not remember how many there were, or their genders. Their eyes burned little Yueri's skin.

 

“Why are you looking at me like that?” she had asked. “Please, stop it. Stop looking at me. Stop it!”

 

“My mommy says you're evil.”

 

“I'm not! It's not my fault! Just leave me alone!” Yueri cried.

 

“You're evil!” One of the children pushed Yueri off of the swing and into the sand. One of the others kicked her.

 

“Stop it! Please! Stop it!” Yueri sobbed.

 

~*~

 

Yueri gasped as she pulled herself out of the vision of the past. She felt warmth wrap around her and she quickly squirmed away from that warmth.

 

“What the hell happened?” she asked quickly, keeping her gaze away from Gaara.

 

“You went into a trance,” Chamomile said, worriedly. “What happened?”

 

“Something I said triggered a memory.” Yueri rubbed her temples and rested her elbows on the tabletop.

 

“You fell and we were afraid you would hit your head. Gaara caught you before your head hit the floor.”

 

Yueri shivered, suddenly desiring the warmth that had wrapped around her when she had first awoken. “Thanks, Gaara.”

 

“The music is good tonight.” Chamomile ran her fingers through her hair, trying to break the awkward silence.

 

Yueri nodded. “Good beat. Good to dancing too.”

 

Just then Chamomile's eyes became to sparkle mischievously. Yueri stared at Chamomile, before realizing. “Oh no, no, no, no. Don't even think about it nee-san.”

 

“Too late.” Chamomile threw her head back and laughed before grabbing both Shikamaru and Neji, pulling them onto to the dance floor, leaving Yueri and Gaara alone in the booth.

 

“I don't dance!” Shikamaru argued as Chamomile tugged on his wrist.

 

“Now you do!” Chamomile, Neji and Shikamaru's voices faded as the music over took them.

 

Yueri folded her hands in her lap nervously. She opened her mouth to say something, but closed it in second thought.

 

“Remember when we first met?” she asked finally, looking up shyly at Gaara.

 

A smile tugged at the corners of Gaara's lips. He glanced at Yueri out of the corner of his eye and smiled. “Of course I do.”

 

“That was an interesting day. We were what, five, six?”

 

“It was before…before…”Gaara trailed off, looking down at his small sake cup.

 

“Before Yashamaru, wasn't it?” Yueri asked softly.

 

“Hai.”

 

“The youngest genin I ever met,” Gaara joked.

 

“And I was protecting you.”

 

Gaara laughed. Yueri felt her heart swell.

 

“It was embarrassing to have a girl protect me.”

 

“But you have to admit, I kicked some serious ass while I was protecting you.” Yueri poked Gaara's shoulder playfully. “I still have the scars from that one guy!”

 

Gaara touched Yueri's right shoulder, trailing his finger down to her hardened bicep. He felt her tremble beneath his touch. “Why are you shaking?”

 

Yueri raised her chin, almost defiantly. “You're touching me, that's why.”

 

“My touch affects you that much?”

 

“No.”

 

Yueri turned her gaze away from Gaara and brushed his hand away from her shoulder. She glared at the table.

 

“I don't know why I let Chamomile convince me to come. I'm outta here,” Yueri muttered. “Move Gaara, I'm leaving.”

 

Gaara moved, allowing Yueri to slide out of the booth. Gaara watched Yueri push her way out of the crowd. He felt something very similar to the feelings that he had felt when he was younger; before Yashamaru tried to kill him.

 

“Wound of the heart,” Gaara whispered as the music changed. His head snapped up as he decided. He shoved his way through the crowd until he found himself in the cool, summer night air. He could see Yueri retreating. “Wait!”

Yueri turned and stopped. Gaara jogged up to her.

 

“I can't let you go home by yourself.”

 

Yueri shrugged and allowed Gaara to walk next to her. They walked in silence until they reached Chamomile's apartment. Yueri unlocked the door and pushed Gaara through the door first. “I saved your life; you can risk yours for a moment.”

 

“Still paranoid, after all these years of Kaze returning?” Gaara asked as Yueri closed the door behind her.

 

“Of course I am. He disappeared, not dead. He disappeared after Shishi was released the first time,” Yueri said leaning against the door for a moment. “Want something to eat?”

 

“Hai. That is, if you don't mind,” Gaara said. He blinked and stared at Yueri. Her smile was soft, loving, and caring. He felt his heart skip a beat as Yueri gazed up at him.

 

“Of course I don't mind.” Yueri turned on a light in the kitchen and turned on the stove. She pulled a pan out of the cupboard along with several ingredients. “I hope you don't mind pancakes.”

 

Yueri accidentally placed her hand on the red eye of the stove. The flaming heat of the stove racked through her hand up to her arm. She jerked her hand up and yelped in her pain. She cradled her burnt hand in the nook of her arm. “Ouch,” she whimpered.

 

“Let me see,” Gaara whispered, walking towards Yueri and holding out his hand. Yueri placed her burnt hand gently in Gaara's. Gaara ran his thumb over the burns. “I'd sacrifice anything so you would not be in pain.”

 

A warm flush spread across Yueri's face. She looked up at Gaara, her mouth was open slightly as Gaara tucked a loose curl behind her right ear. He dropped her hand and cupped her chin in his hands. Yueri jerked away quickly, her eyes were filled with fear.

 

“Please, don't,” Yueri pleaded as Gaara wrapped his arms around her waist.

 

“Why?” Gaara whispered softly before biting her neck gently. He heard her gasp and felt her press against him.

 

“Because of that,” she whined before Gaara turned her around to face him.

 

He stroked her cheek softly before bending down and pressing his lips gently against Yueri's. Yueri wrapped her arms around his neck as he slid his arms around her waist. He held her tightly against him.

 

“What is this feeling?” he murmured against her lips.

 

“It called love. Not everyone knows how it feels,” Yueri whispered as she pulled away from Gaara, her lips lingering momentarily. “It's amazing how love becomes so misused.”

 

“So…”

 

“When you fall in love with someone, you can't imagine yourself being with anyone else. You would sacrifice anything for that person. Even if they aren't happy being with you but are happy being with someone else, then you're happy,” Yueri tried to explain. “Or it could just feel how I'm feeling right now.”

 

Gaara smiled down on Yueri and rubbed his nose against hers as she leaned against his chest.

 

 

~*~

 

Twirling, twisting

Spinning, dashing

Through the consuming flames.

Racing through the burning fields

Neck and neck in the final race.

The flames dance all around.

The sacrifices run for their only chance;

Running for their only chance for freedom.