“Damn it!” Gaara jolted awake, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he struggled for breath. His shirt clung to his skin, soaked with sweat. In one swift motion, he threw aside the blanket and yanked off his shirt, tossing it carelessly across the room.

Trying to steady himself, he walked over to the dresser near his closet. Pulling open a drawer, he took out a small box and carried it toward the wide window. The one whose curtains he deliberately never closed. From the box, he pulled ...