Mate of the Sand (Gaara's Neko sequel)

Mate of the Sand Chapter 4

"Neko?"

My mind snaps to the present.

I have been leaking killer intent this whole time.

They have never felt mine before.

Gaara's, certainly, but never mine.

It subsides quickly.

"Sorry, what?"

Kankuro shakes his head.

"Your killer intent. That was very thick. You aren't a child anymore. You're dangerous."

My eyes connect with Gaara's.

His gaze isn't stiff or angry.

Actually, it's rather soft and serene.

"I am still a child. But I'm also the Neko. It enables different, new things every time I use it."

Kankuro's gaze is searching, rather disapproving really.

"What have they done to you? You aren't sweet anymore."

I narrow my eyes.

Big brother needs to relax.

"What have they done to you? You aren't perverted anymore. Haven't asked me to bathe with you."

Temari and Gaara glance at each other, before taking us away from each other.

Gaara hauls me up the stairs by my wrist, into the bedroom.

He plops me on the bed, and fixes me with a heavy stare.

My ears go down.

I've disappointed him.

"Don't go picking fights with him. He really cares about you, you changing shocked him."

Anger sparks in my chest, but I ignore it.

He seems to see it though.

"Are you mad? I can't have you picking fights with my brother. It'll hurt both of you."

I don't answer and he growls.

The sound of sand moving reaches my ears before I am encased.

"Promise me you'll stop fighting."

I'm panting heavily, trying to get enough oxygen.

"Promise me!"

The sand is growing tighter, but he doesn't notice.

He is too angry at me.

My lungs are heaving, breathing ragged.

The sand stills at the crack.

He sends it away and hovers beside me as I clutch my side.

"I... I didn't mean to... I'm sorry... We have to get that fixed..."

I shake my head, getting under the covers.

"I can deal with it tomorrow."

Gaara sighs, and then I feel his arms around me as I drift off to sleep.

XXX

Right now, I'm standing outside Gaara's office.

Just standing here.

Who knew being a guard was so boring.

On the other hand, it gives me time to think.

Kankuro hasn't spoken to me since yesterday.

I mean, I don't exactly go out of my way to talk to him, but still.

Temari's been rather distant as well.

Is this how my life will go downhill?

The people I care about growing to hate me?

I knew it was getting too good.

I fell in love, I had a family, I was powerful.

And it will be taken from me?

All of it?

I have hard enough time remembering my past.

Up until I was five, my memories are jumbled, I have two versions of each memory.

I'm not sure which is the real one.

So my future will be destroyed as well?

Starting with my family.

Soon enough Gaara.

And then my power.

That's when I'll die.

Once Mother finds out that I don't want to stay with her, she'll tell how to kill me.

And I'll be weak and alone.

Someone will come to kill me.

Either for a bounty or for the fact that I'm different.

I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up.

Just because I found people who care about me for me, doesn't mean I'll live longer.

The average life expectancy for a neko is twenty years.

I'm at seventeen.

And since I won't have a master or someone to watch my back, I'll die faster.

We have the capability to live as long as a human, we just usually don't survive that long.

I should have just ran from Temari when I met her.

Yes, it would have been rude, but I would have lived longer.

The village hated me because I was different.

But now I'm a threat too.

That puts me higher on the list of things to exterminate.

I snap back to reality when I hear the door open.

Gaara pokes his head out, looking around for me.

"Come, Neko."

I bow my head and enter the office.

He sits at his desk, and I take the time to admire the veiw he has.

"Ai... What's troubling you?"

My eyes flick to him in confusion.

"I could feel your chakra from here. It was... different. Miserable, angry and defensive at once."

I lower my eyes, looking at his desk.

"Yeah, well... It's just upsetting to die. And I know I will soon. The pattern matches up perfectly."

For some reason, he's angry now.

"I won't let anyone touch you. EVER. You aren't going to die."

I smile sadly.

"Gaara... you won't be able to stop it. No one can. It's already started."

He slams his hands on the table in frustration.

"NO! I will not let you die! You're going to stay with me!"

I bow my head.

"Yes, Gaara."

But I can tell he doesn't trust that.

Neither do I.