Her Sudden Farewell

Love climbed the stairs of the mansion and stopped at Gaara's door panting having ran. Her palm rested beside the knob and she frowned. Would she really be leaving? She had a duty as his body guard so why was Neji taking her away?

"Gaara kun?" she called through the door. Her head was right by the opening and she was nervous confronting him over such a reason. How was she supposed to explain to him that....well what she didn't know? Would he be mad? Would she even come back? She was growing frustrated not understanding it all but stared frantically at the crack hoping he'd answer.

He was kneeling beside the bed he never used, clutching his head and stuffing his face into the blanket that was neatly laid out on the bed. He heard his name, and turned his head slightly to look at the door. "What do you want..?"

"Uh-" her voice trembled and she stepped back. "I-I just-" her insides churned and her body flared up as she grew uncomfortably nervous. "If it is a bad time I-forgive me master!"

Love fled from his door and shut herself in her room. She hastily grabbed her regular necessities (toothbrush, brush, comb, etc.) and her very first uniform that Neko had torn. She sat at the edge of her bed and looked at her hands. What had become of her and-what would become of her once she left?

Gaara kun....what is going to happen?

He stared at the door, then silently cursed the world, getting up and following her. He walked into her room without knocking, which was very rude, but he didn't necessarily care at the moment. He walked over, standing beside her, and sighed quietly. "My apologies, Love.. I didn't mean to sound angry.. are you in need of something..?"

She froze at his arrival and dropped everythingin her hands before turning aoundand bowing her head, "It is-not your fault! I-I just thought you should um-know that a Leaf ninja is taking me away but-I do not know er-why...." She touched the side of her head showing litle understanding of her own situation.

His eyes turned slanted, and he looked the slightest bit confused. "What do you mean a Leaf ninja is taking you away.."

She sat down and thought while she spoke, "Neji Hyuga had a conference with the elders and...he came out and....he took me to a store and.....he made me by snacks and....he told me to get what I needed from home but....he never told me why."

"He spoke with the elders..?" Gaara thought for a second. Neji Hyuuga, a guy he barely remembered from the Chunin exams so many years ago, came all the way to Sunagakure to talk with the elders. Gaara knew how the elders were, so he knew that the conference would most likely have ended horribly. "Hm.. so.. he's taking you to Konoha.. are you against this?"

She shrugged, "I had no say in well...any of it....he said something like-well..." she thought a bit more, "....like-time to start new or change or something along those lines but-I cannot tell what it is that happened in the conference room."

Gaara sighed, looking away. "By the sound of it, he is bringing you out of the village to begin a new path in Konoha. The elders had made horrible decisions in the past.. they didn't exactly treat you all too well. Neji must want to best for you, it seems.. so, he's giving you a new life. Would you like that, Love? Please be honest.."

Love seemed to take it in extremely slow. Her mentality couldn't exactly comprehend with this opportunity offered. She tilted her head as he asked the question and then blinked before saying anything.

"I am fired?" she asked quietly not getting it.

"No, Love, you are not fired." He shook his head, keeping his eyes on the floor. "But I am giving you the opportunity to begin a new, more exciting, and healthier life.. would you like to live with Neji in the Leaf village? Or must I ask him to leave politely and to stop trying to force things out of you? It's your decision."

Exciting...healthier....new? She was...leaving for good? Did Gaara want her to go...or...maybe she upset the elders or... It all confused her and she only shook her head, "I am busy right? I cannot take another vacation...Am I off duty or-" she paused thinking over her main objectives trying to pin point which one this was about. She had yet to fail in protecting him, she has been obedient to the laws of Suna, she had not slipped info. to foreigners...She couldn't recall anything having gone wrong but felt the need to ask, "Gaara kun...Did I mess up?"

"No.. Love, your misunderstanding.." He sighed again, looking at her. "I am allowing you to detach yourself from Sunagakure and it's laws to live in a different environment. You are allowed to quit being my protector if it makes you happy. You are allowed to leave this village if it's better for you. If you want to live with Neji, then do not think about Suna or even me and do what's best for you."

She looked around the room seeing if anyone was watching getting nervous wondering if she was being tested or tricked or something and began tearing up feeling stupid but confused and said through a cracking voice, "Th-that is not an objective..."

She was stuck to her teachins like glue and couldn't get passed it. Her way of thinking had been corrupted and she just fell apart so easily when things strayed from her functioning that it made her tremble a bit.

"Love.. do not be upset, this is a good opportunity for you. It is not a bad thing. Of course, you will be missed, but I want you to be happy." He gave a smile. It was tiny, but a smile nonetheless, and probably the best one he could give. "I don't want to hear that you're suffering. You don't seem very happy, Love, and I want you to do what is right for you. If leaving saddens you, you are always welcome in this village. You may visit any time of the day, you know that I am always awake."

She cried and bit down on her tongue having disobeyed orders him having told her not to be upset. Blood escaped the corner of her mouth and she sniffled while nodding at what he asked of her. If he wanted her to leave than she would. But it hurt inside. She was always mentally on task but without that duty-who was she? Nobody cared, nobody noticed her. Nothing made her special to anyone except her body that had been carelessly abused. She looked at him realizing she han't hidden her tears and grabbed a lock of hair roughly yanking it having done another bad thing.

"I will g-go..." she uttered out with blood staining her teeth and tears still streaking down her face. "I will behave and-and I will c-come back...I will be a b-better person and...and I will do good...for Gaara kun."

"Listen," He frowned. "You have been a great help for me, and you are a fantastic person. Right now, I am not telling you to leave. I am telling you to start caring about your happiness. I am giving the best options I can for you, since Neji seems to be trying very hard to help you. Live with him for a while, if you'd like, to see if your content with the lifestyle. You may always return if you do not like it, but Love.. I know about what the Elders did to you, and I do not agree with it at all. I want you to be able to escape what I never could. Please, for me, do what makes you happy and do not let yourself be pushed around."

Love wiped her tears and the blood at her mouth before she spoke again, "I-I will...for you...Thank you for...saving me Gaara kun." She leaned forward tipping his chin with her free hand and kissed the mark on his head that symbolized love. It was all he'd have left and with that coincidentally being her name...she wanted that to be her place. He wasn't alone in this world. She did care about him and she did love him but now that she had to go she needed to let him know that.

Once her lips parted from his head she threw her bag over her shoulder and parted with the empty room to meet up with Neji.

He stood still, staring at the ground. He smiled slightly, keeping his head tilted. "I'll miss you, Love. I wish peace and happiness to be with you."

He closed his eyes, suddenly wondering why everyone was leaving him.