Chapter 9

Gaara's Depart and Itachi's Entrance

I looked at Aldan in shock while Naruto just glared at the wall stubbornly. "He left last night." Why would he leave so soon? Does he need to collect his thoughts or does he not love me anymore? Will my killer be… someone else? No. I won't accept anyone else as my murderer.

"I hate you." I shouted then ran into my room. Looking in the mirror I stared at the face of a doll, she has no emotions and is beautiful. Walking over to my glass case I began to shatter every doll. Eloise was sitting on my bed, her face taped back together. Blood covered my feet but there was no pain, as I continued to shatter the dolls.

"Do you need more dolls?" Naruto asked sarcastically from behind me. I ignored him and threw a doll at the door just next to his head. He flinched and looked down suddenly willing to acknowledge my authority over him.

"Go away." I said with no emotion. He looked at me then walked out of the room with Aldan just behind him. Watching them go I turned around and took one of the dolls left over and threw it against my dress up mirror. Once this was done I allowed Aldan to come back in and attend to my bloody feet. He did so in silence and allowed me to think of Gaara.

He would never have allowed a single shard to hit me. I blinked in surprise and looked over at my wall. A note was nailed against it. Aldan walked over to it and grabbed hold of the note yanking it out of my wall. I watched him head over to me and set the note down beside me. I read it over swiftly.

Dear Sakura,

I'm sorry for leaving so suddenly. I was going to do it in a few days but last night when you were ready to let me do such a horrible thing… I had to go in order to find out if this is just an act of violent passion or true love. Meet me outside in your black gazebo in a week.

Love,

Gaara

"I hate him." I said softly and then noticed that I'm all alone. I slid my bandaged feet under the covers then fell into a deep and dreamless sleep. I'm going to die without him. This pain in my chest just hurts too much for me. I woke up in the middle of the night feeling blood all over my body. I looked up to see Gaara's laughing face and screamed.

That's when I truly woke up. The darkness of my room felt too real and horrid after my nightmare. Eloise was lying down beside me with her crystal blue eyes now a void of glass. All the passion and pain hidden within her soul is gone completely. I sat up and looked at the floor to see that it had all been cleaned up while I had slept.

My make-up dresser was replaced with a black one and my dolls gone. All except for my precious Eloise. She is the only one who understands me anyway, if anyone else had been left behind then I would have had her destroy them. It would have been a lovely sight if only I could have accomplished it.

"Do you really love him enough to allow him to kill you?" Naruto asked softly from beside me. I turned to look at him and said nothing at all. He looked at my expressionless face then examined my room. "If a man can make you go through so much pain… then he obviously doesn't deserve you." He informed me and stood up to leave. I watched him go with no expression.

He just doesn't understand us.

Naruto and Aldan have it so good. They both have a master they follow and do not know when they will die. The boys have people who care for them and have no complications except for me. After that their lives are perfect. I hate them. I almost want to order for the boys to die gruesome deaths in order for them to atone for their sins.

If only things were that easy. No one really knows me here. The only one who understands me is Gaara. After him I have no one else. That's all there is to me, if there is no prince of monsters then I'm just an insane girl who destroys dolls. I'm insane. That's the only explanation when it comes to this curse I am forced to bear.

Please stop this. I looked at Eloise then laid back down on my bed. I don't want to talk anymore; nothing I have to say will do anything. I may as well remain silent. The quieter I become then there will be a fewer reasons others have to judge me, but of course they will still find a way to judge me. I listened to the world go by and was not frightened any longer.

You will be fifteen soon. Go after him or do something. Sitting here and doing nothing is just a waste of time. Once again I ignored her and closed my eyes. If I pretend to think of anything else but him… then perhaps I will think of anything else but him. Maybe I'm strong enough to do just that. Suddenly the door opened and I saw someone I haven't seen in a very long time.

"Hello my dear. I hear that you are moping so I came by to see if this were true." The Queen said from in front of me. I looked at her for a moment then stood up. She bowed but I did nothing and just stood there waiting for more. Her eyes narrowed slightly then she faked a smile. "Gaara will be back soon from telling his parents about the marriage plans."

I turned away and faced the wall. "He did not only leave for that reason." I said knowing she would never understand his reasoning. If she did then I would be surprised. Instead my mother put a hand on my shoulder and smiled at me. This room doesn't fit her, not with the red all along the walls with darkness here and there. With no more dolls it seems a bit more sane.

"We both know you really shouldn't be with Gaara. He's unstable and could one day hurt you. You're scared that he's the one from the prophecy right? That's why I have brought you another suitor to make your choices more… well reasonable. Guards and an unstable prince are hardly suitable for my daughter." She said with a laugh. I glared at her then began to stare as a young man entered the room. He had hair as black as night and bright red eyes.

"Hello Sakura. I'm Itachi, the prince of Darkness." He informed me. The name was ironic but other than that I thought nothing more of him. Mother looked at us and smiled slyly and then walked out of the room. I noticed her glance back at Eloise and frown before heading out. I wonder if she's beginning to realize just how insane her heir is.

"Would you ever kill me?" I asked him as the boy walked toward me. He looked older but not by much. Itachi shook his head with pursed lips letting me know that he would in fact kill just not me. It's interesting but just proves that he isn't the one.

"I will never do you harm if you pick me, but even if you don't I won't do anything like that." He said looking at Eloise. I picked her up and held the girl against me tightly as though he were a threat. Itachi just laughed. It was different but I just couldn't bring myself to care. I wonder how much it cost mother to ship him over to me.

"That just won't do, Itachi. The man I love is one who is torn between whether to kill me or keep me alive with him for the rest of our days. Either way my blood will be with him." I said and ran my fingers through her hair. Suddenly he was pulling me to my feet while my lullaby box began to play some music.

We danced, and I stared into his red eyes with an entranced look on my face. He's so… different. I like how cruel he is inside and how the darkness within him whispers to my insanity. I almost smiled with how dark we were dancing. The seductive moves and playful teases alone were something Gaara and I never do.

"You are beautiful." Itachi whispered and leaned so close to my lips that my eyes half closed waiting for the kiss. Instead he pulled away with a laugh and danced with me once more. We could only go for one more song before I had to lie down. "You don't eat much. Is it because of him?"

I looked over at the odd food near me, and closed my eyes tightly and wrinkled my nose. "When Gaara was around I ate much more than this… but I'm not hungry, especially when I can't taste this dirt." I said with a blank face looking up at him once more. Itachi sat down at the foot of my bed and stared at me with his red orbs. They scared me a bit with the intensity but soon I got used to it.

"If you don't eat then I will kiss you." Itachi smirked and leaned closer. I turned to my food and took a bite but he just leaned in closer. Quickly, I swallowed and grabbed another spoonful and ate once again. He's not sweet and lusts for blood, but he does have a dark charm and seductive attitude about him.

When I finished the food he let me fall asleep but crawled into bed beside me. I quit attempting to sleep and just stared at him. A playful smile covered his features but soon, with the blank stare I gave him, he got out of the bed. I started to sleep but once again he interrupted when he kissed my cheek. The kiss lasted five seconds with his hand against the back of my neck.

"You are beautiful but you don't mean a thing to me." Itachi whispered and left the room. I opened my eyes and stared at the closed door. I feel the same about him… only I care about his personality if only a little. It doesn't matter anyway. I just need to wait for Gaara. He's the only one who matters to me right now.

When I woke up the next day Itachi was in my room holding Eloise. He smirked when he noticed I was awake then gave me a full out grin when I lunged for her; I almost fell to the ground doing so but he caught me and placed her in my arms before carrying me. His arms were under the crook of my legs while his other arm was at my upper back.

"Does the doll mean that much to you?" Itachi asked me curiously but I ignored him and brushed her hair with my fingers. Itachi laid me down on my bed and then sat down beside me. "She is lovely… in a broken way. I wonder when she'll stop being in so much pain." I ignored him knowing that we will never stop being in pain, especially with my love gone.

"The pain ends when I die." I informed him and stood up as someone knocked on the door. I told whoever it was to come in allowing Naruto to enter. He took one step in, saw Itachi, then turned around and muttered angrily to himself as he left. Instantly Aldan entered the room and kneeled down to me. "Stand my dear Aldan."

"I'm sorry for Naruto's rudeness. The Queen sent us to see how you and Itachi are doing, princess. I'm just happy that you seem in better spirits today, although I still hope for you to become as happy as before. Thank you for allowing us to do our duty." He said then stood up and bowed before heading out after his partner.

"Gaara made you happier?" Itachi asked softly staring at me in disbelief. My emotionless expression was all the answer he needed when he left the room angrily.

You only care for the insane don't you, Sakura?