:One in the Same and Never Alone Chapter 7, Ending the Inevitable:.

As they grew farther from the sand dome, Yuuki looked back, staring at the redheaded boy who sat where the dome once stood tall. He waved, and she smiled.

Her brother noticed that as well, a scowl coming over him. He didn’t know what was going on between her and that… that monster, but he knew he had to stop it.

The two reached their home in silence. Yuuki’s brother had a thoughtful, yet angered look on his face. Yuuki felt cold, despite her sitting on her brother’s warm shoulders. As he opened the door, she motioned him softly to let her down. With a scowl, he knelt down.

Slowly, she slid off his back, scurrying toward her room before he could stop her. Oddly enough, he made naught of an effort. He stood once more and walked into his own room, lying onto his bed, his face screwed up into an overly furious expression. He could not think straightly, and he felt like his veins were going to pop out of his toned arms.

Though rage rose and circulated throughout his body, he sat up, and although anger wanted to flood the silent house, he spoke with the utmost faux sweetness. “Oh, Yuuki-hime!” He called, in an almost singsong voice.

Yuuki jumped as she heard his call. She was calmly sitting on her bed, thinking of the palpable tension she felt while riding on his shoulders. She also felt his anger, despite his faux joy attitude, which construed he was, at least, content in mind. Slowly, she slid off her bed and scurried into the next room, standing before her brother coyly, staring at the floor.

“Y-yes, Aniki?” She said softly, her words stumbling through the air nervously.

His voice dropped, and she once again felt the burning anger in the air.

“Yuuki, would you care to tell me what you were doing with… that boy… in that dome?” He asked his voice filling with the rage and hatred he had once wanted to release.

Yuuki winced at his words. How did he know she was with him in the sand dome?

“H-he’s my friend, Aniki… We were just playing a g-game…” She stuttered, tripping over her words once more.

This time, he stood, his hand gripping the side of his dresser. “Who was he?” He spoke, demanding an answer with his tone, every word like glass to her skin.

She didn’t want to tell him because she knew what would happen if she did. However, it seemed as though she had no other choice but to. Softly, and almost inaudibly, she spoke.

“Gaara…”

And as soon as she spoke, the lamp hit the wall.

“SUBAKU NO GAARA?!” He yelled, making Yuuki wince softly. “THAT MONSTER?!” And once more, something glass hit the wall, only this time, Yuuki couldn’t see the object. She already felt the tears gathering behind her eyes.

“I NEVER…” He started, quite loudly. “And I mean NEVER WANT YOU TO GO NEAR HIM EVER AGAIN. UNDERSTAND?!”

She winced once against at his loud tone, and nodded slightly. Only then, did she feel that familiar pain in the side of her face. He’s slapped her, his palm hitting her face with brute force, sending her to the ground. She let out a soft cry and looked up at her brother with a scared, yet somewhat astonished look. He’d never been so angry before, although he has hit her, but never with such a force.

Tears streamed down her eyes as he came closer. She shrieked.

“Yes, Chichi-ue! I won’t see him ever again!!” She curled up, staring up at him, sobbing softly.

“Chichi-ue…” He repeated, staring down at the young girl, his eyes still filled with anger, yet his face soft, and gentle. He knelt down and picked her up, a small squirm producing from her body. She stared at him slightly, tears still streaming down her face. He gave her a light kiss on the forehead and smiled a faux warm smile. He patted her head softly and held her softly. “Chichi-ue wouldn’t want you near that monster, Gaara…”

She glared at him, her eyes hidden within his chest.

“…He would’ve wanted you to be happy… the way you are now…” He continued petting her head, his free hand resting above her small behind. She turned dark red, biting her lip as she felt his hands beginning to wander all over her small frame.

This time, however, Yuuki didn’t let him. She struggled under his hands, trying to pry them away from her tiny body. This made her brother wince lightly. He gripped her arms tightly and held her to his chest, squeezing her lightly.

“Yuuki-hime, remember… I’m the only one here for you. If you don’t comply with me, you will be punished.” He said in an aggravated voice, hugging the struggling Yuuki tightly. She squirmed and struggled and for the first time since the touching and beating began, she found her voice.

“I don’t care! Punish me, beat me, do whatever, but I will not let you touch me like that anymore!” She yelled defiantly, struggling and squirming within her brothers grasp.

Her brother stared at her in awe, that the young girl finally had the courage to stand up to him. Though, this fact did not cloud the rising anger growing in his body. He threw her off his lap and stared down at her angrily, his fists clenched. He drew back his arm, and aimed at the small, pink bundle curled up on the floor.

Yuuki had begun sobbing, unbeknownst of the courageous feel that’d just come over her. She didn’t say that, but she heard her voice scream it. Who was that courageous being that yelled that at her brother? It sure as hell wasn’t her!

Now, she was scared for her life. Her brother began to punch her side, stomach and back. Crack! There goes a bone. He stopped his punches once he heard a crack, staring down at the injured girl with fake sympathy. He reached out a hand, his fake sympathy growing slightly, becoming less faux. She swatted his hand away, something not so intelligent to do, as it only brought him more beating incentive.

He kicked her, now, but only once, in the stomach. She coughed hard, blood falling onto the hard, wooden floor. She sobbed, her tired, hurt arms trying to crawl from him. Sadly, she couldn’t escape him. He grabbed her by the waist and sat her onto his lap, himself taking a seat back onto his rocking chair.

“Now, Yuuki-hime..” He said sweetly, rubbing her stomach softly. “Wouldn’t you rather show your brother how much you love him? Or rather you continue getting punished?”

Yuuki wanted to hiss, but bit her lip, in case it would lead to another crack of a bone. She swallowed hard, and nodded.

“I-I love you, Aniki…” She forced out, staring up at her brother, her eyes pouring tears. She felt that broken bone, it poked at her skin threateningly, wanting to burst out and show it’s clean, white surface. She winced as her brother held up her arm.

“Oh Kami-sama…” He said, astonished. He looked at her, then back at the wound, and smiled slightly. “You need to get fixed up before you can play with me, right Yuuki-hime?” He asked with a cheery grin.

Dourly, she nodded.