Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO and its characters
Chapter One
She was getting very weak, it had been hours since they left her here to die. Indeed she was very foolish to have left the safety of her town. The sun was strong, she could barely move, she wasn't even sure what really hurts anymore.
Upon the blistering horizon, she saw an image but she wasn't sure whether it was real or just a mirage, she wanted to cry out for help but her throat was dry, she tried to crawl towards the image but alas she was too weak. The image was getting closer that she tried to reach for it but oblivion engulfed her, and then there was nothing but darkness.
They were in a hurry; they knew they need to get back home as soon as possible. The final leg before they reach Sunagakure is the canyons but suddenly the blond girl stopped and extended her arms stopping her two brothers from moving, her forest green eyes roaming the grounds.
"Is there something wrong Temari?" Kankuro asked.
"I smell blood..." She simply answered.
Suddenly the three of them drew closer to each other looking at their surroundings. They sharpened their eyes and ears and tried to scan the opening of the canyon.
The young man with brick red hair closed his black eyes and tried to listen to any foreign sound. He heard the silent gust of wind, a faint sound of a gecko and a few snakes but there was one sound in particular that had caught his attention. "There's someone here..." He simply stated, as he heard a faint sound of breathing and heart beat.
Temari ran to the left side of the canyon and there she saw a figure lying in between two massive boulders. It's surprise that the person is still somewhat alive. "Kankuro! Gaara!" She called her brothers out. "Come here now!" She called them again.
In an instant her brothers were at her side, without another word the three of them pulverized the massive rocks all the while Gaara formed a shield around the body, preventing it from gaining anymore damage.
The person's hair was long and rust colored, they couldn't tell whether it was because of the blood or whether it was the natural color. They carefully turned the body facing up, and they were horrified at the sight.
Her hair was a natural blond, her face was bloody and bruised, her arms and legs were no different, multiple lacerations and bruises. And to top it all off, she looked quite young. Temari checked her pulse to see if she was still alive. It was very, very weak.
"Kankuro carry her" Temari said.
"Let's just leave her here, we're not sure if she's an enemy." Kankuro said eyeing the unknown forehead protector.
"Then I'll carry her, we can't just leave her here, she'll die before the sun rises tomorrow." Gaara said, as he kneeled beside her and picked her up gingerly.
"But Gaara!" Kankuro objected. "We're even sure if she'll survive this many injuries."
"But we can't leave her here knowing that we could've done something about it." Temari replied.
Gaara carried the stranger until they have reached the gates of Sunagakure. "Kazekage –sama..." One of his councillors greeted him readily as they met at the gates.
"Get me a medical-nin now!" He instantly ordered.
It was cold but the pain was more bearable now. Her eyes were still closed though, she was afraid to open them. Suddenly she heard voices, it sounded like there was someone arguing.
"With all due respect Kazekage-sama, you were being reckless by bringing that stranger in our village. We don't know where she came from or what is her purpose for coming all the way here, her village symbol is also unfamiliar. We don't even know what she's for."
"Well she's here now we can interrogate her when she wakes up, but whatever the reason I doubt she deserved the state were we found her in. This girl couldn't even be as old as I am." The other replied.
"But as a Kage you should have thought the safety of your people, the Akatsuki is still at large, what if she's an agent?"
"If she's an agent of the Akatsuki then I will take responsibility for it."
It was the last thing she heard before darkness tided over her.
Gaara just finished his morning duties, he sat in his chair and looked at the scrolls at hand. He reached for it and started to scan over the scrolls once more when there was a soft rasp on the door.
"Who is it?" Gaara asked, his eyes never leaving the scrolls that he was reading.
"It's me, Gaara-sama, Matsuri and my friend Sari." The familiar voice said.
"Come in..." Gaara replied, rolling the scroll up then set it aside.
"I hope that we didn't bother you Gaara-sama..." Matsuri said apologetically, bowing before the Kazekage.
"I was just done, what business do I have with you?" He asked them.
"We just finished the escorting of the feudal princess of the Hashigakure to the Getsugakure without a single incident." Matsuri began, before giving the full detail of the report to the Kazekage.
"Very well, thank you." Gaara replied curtly.
"Uhm, Gaara-sama... is it true?" Matsuri asked.
"What is Matsuri?"
"Well there was this rumour in the village that you found a wounded person in the canyons?" Matsuri asked.
Gaara searched her face, she looked worried somehow. "Yes I did, she's now recovering in the hospital." He said. "Listen Matsuri if you're only going to say that I made a mistake by bringing her to Suna, then don't say anything else. I'll take full responsibility if she's an enemy, I'll kill her myself." He continued.
"It's not that I don't trust you Gaara-sama, and I know that you have a good judgement. I will accept and respect your decision to let the stranger stay here in Suna" Matsuri replied.
"Thank you. Now would you like to meet her?" He asked them.
"Certainly Gaara-sama that is if you're not too busy."
Gaara led Matsuri and Sari out of his office and then the three of them walked to the hospital.
On their way, many people were about. Some greeting the young Kazekage with respect others with fear. But this was nothing new to him. In his young age Gaara of the sand had been through a lot. He had been ridiculed, betrayed, and feared, now he is the youngest Kage ever to ascend in all the lands.
It wasn't long before they reached the hospital. "Kazekage-sama..." A man in a flowing white robe greeted them.
"Sekka, how is she?" Gaara asked.
"Please follow me Kazekage-sama..." The medical-nin replied. Then led the way to the ward. The hospital smelt sterile, the walls were white and the floors were blue and sand colored tiles. People were up and about, the Sunagakure hospital wasn't as big as Konohagakure's hospital but still it was very busy. "She seems fine now, but still she hadn't woken up yet. But don't worry Kazekage-sama she'll recover without any problems, which amazed me to no end. Just last night she multiple fractures, three broken ribs and a dislocated shoulder, the bones on her left leg were practically crushed. Now her ribs are healed and we had no problem fixing up her shoulder and her legs are now okay." Sekka explained.
"That's good to hear." Gaara said before they opened the door to the hospital room.
She felt a warm sensation on her face, and where ever she was lying it was soft and very much comfortable. She opened her eyes and was surprised to find herself in an unfamiliar place.
She gingerly sat herself upright. She opened her mouth and tried to call out to the people who were in the other side of the curtain but to her surprise no voice came out, she tried to call them once more but failed.
She started to panic, hyperventilating and flailing her arms about. She accidentally knocked the vase on her bed side bringing the peoples' attention to her.