The sun was low over the sky, casting a hunting red hue over everything, not that there can really be many other colours in a desert. The sand stretches out, far, far into the distance, as far as the eye can see. And, just as suddenly the huge mountains of sand give way to the huge, shining ocean. They're not so different really; both are as endless as the sky, ever changing ever flowing, never still. In the middle of it all, sand pelleting their skin like bullets, and the wind whipping at their cloths, the silhouettes of three dark figures; their heads bowed, collars turned up against the wind keeping the sand from their eyes and mouths, or, trying to, anyway. "Gaara…. Is.. Is this really necessary?" Her voice is soft, muffled by her shirt as she tries not to inhale any more sand, but even that doesn't hide the slight irritation.
"Yes" his tone is flat, and sturdy, no room for argument there then.
"Ergh.. Are we nearly there yet?"
Both siblings turn and glare at their brother
"Stop whining, yes, we're almost there now, look you can see the ship form here"
"What! That tiny little thing, Gaara that'll take FOREVER to reach…. Ergh why'd I agree to come on this shitty trip any way"
Gaara cocks an eyebrow at his brother "you can always turn back" he says icily "believe me, I'm not complaining."
Kankuro scowls "dickwad" he mutters, earning another raised eyebrow
"Really, Kankuro, really, that's the best insult you could come up with? What are you? Five!"
He glares darkly, opening his mouth to respond; Tamari quickly cuts her younger brother off, not wanting to see him piss Gaara off, especially not when they have to spend the next four week in close quarters with him. He may not be a murdering psychopath any more but he's still a pain in the neck if you annoy him, "hey! Look you can see the sea from here, look!"
Both men stare at her, Kankuro's expression clearly saying "well DUH" whilst Gaara's is blank, one eyebrow raised slightly at her. Nether seem very impressed with her observation, but it has the desired effect
"I'm not even going to dignify that with a response" Gaara says turning away from her and staring into the distance.
Surprisingly it doesn't take the trio long to reach the ship, which is already swarming with other ninjas.
"Gaara-sama?" "hm?" Gaara turns back to face the man addressing him, he's a tall sturdy built man with a mop of greying brown hair and a hint of stubble smudging his cheeks Gaara recognises him as the captain.
"What can I do for you?" Gaara asks, smiling slightly at the man, who grins back "Just thought I'd let ya know we're leaving in half an hour" his voice is rough and loud but not in the least bit threatening.
"Thank you," Gaara reply's softly
"Oh," he says holding his hand out "you might want these, they're your room keys" he says passing them to Gaara, who nods and turns back to his siblings, "come on."