Yo ho! yo ho! A pirate's life for me! .... Yes, me scurvy sea dawgs! Ye read that right! I be back for another tale! ARR!!!!

No, seriously guys. This is the sequal to Cry Me A Sea of Stars.... if you haven't read it... GO READ IT!~!!!!!!!! - clears throat - anyway... so this one is going to have multiple plot twists and a few very awkward moments... so... sit back and enjoy the ride... thanks.

Also! i want to thank all of those who reviewed the first installment of this series. It means a lot and it kept me going. So! Without further ado! thank you to: UrAlibi, ShadowTheAngel, Queenofloveandhearts, fullmetal-chele, and writress! As well as my anonymous reviewers! THANK YOU!!!!!

DISCLAIMER! If I owned the series, why would this be on FANfiction?

By Dan's Mourning Light

Chapter 1: It's Been a While

"Foxy... how you and Yeti doin' down there?" the red head whispered into the head set he wore, leaning against the cool aluminum wall of the air duct. From the other end, there was a brief crackle before a response echoed into the red head's ear.

"Peachy. Yeti's working on the door right now." a click sounded in the background. "Scratch that. We're ready."

"Roger. Wait my signal." The red head whispered, green eyes casted down as he glanced over the small cell phone sized computer. He punched in a few codes, an orange and green dot locking into place. Done, he lifted a hand to the headset and slowly twisted a nearly invisible dial, pushing it in once in the desired position. "How're things lookin', Fisher?"

"Clear for the time being. Are the other two in position?"

"Affirmative... Cut the power on my mark.... 3.....2.....1...."

The lights went out, the entire compound going dark. A few gasps were heard from nearby workers. Meanwhile, the red head waited. He slowly and carefully slipped a hand over the top of the head set, bringing down a red, one eye visor. A single red light blinked on. "Show time..."

His booted foot collided with the vent door, knocking it off it's bolts and falling to the floor feet away. Grabbing hold of the edge above him, he jumped from the vent and darted passed the blind workers. He lifted a hand from his rifle, adjusting the frequency of the com, creating a linked conversation with the other three.

"Markers..." He stated in a hushed hiss, backing into a nook as a few security guards rushed by in the dark, the red head able to see them due to the screen across his eye.

"In position...."

"Mark..."

"Johnny cracked corn and I don't care..."

The red head nodded and glanced around the corner. "Alright... the target is in the assigned position. Get in, take him out, and drag his ass to the ship..."

"Roger tha- shit! We've got company!"

The red head's gaze shot up as he caught movement, just in time to be slammed into the wall across from him. A crack as his head met the metal tiling. He snarled and spun around, bringing a fist into his attacker's jaw. A second pair of hands reached out to snag him, restraining his arms, his rifle now kicked off to the side.

The lights flickered on and the now captive red head lifted his black ringed gaze to the soldiers standing around him.

-0-0-0-0-0-

"Gaara, Gaara, Gaara.... Do you have any idea how much of a pain you and your crew are to us?" The government official the red head had come to learn as Sai stated, tapping the gun at his hip. Gaara just kept his blank stare leveled on the man, ignoring him for the most part.

Behind him stood his crew of three. Tsunade stood, arms crossed over her chest and a hip stuck out to one side. Her head was tilted up and back as she glared at the soldiers surrounding them. To her left stood Naruto, the other blond not bothering to look calm. He just outright glared at the men, growling slightly, hackles raised. On the other side of Tsunade, perfectly calm, stood Neji. He just looked at the others coolly, waiting for Gaara's orders.

Sai waited for a moment before sighing. "You know.... we're lucky we tapped into the com lines when we did... Otherwise we never would have been able to find you..." He took a step forward, eyes narrowing as he studied the other. "And to think such a failure as yourselves have managed to slip out of our grasp every time..."

"Says a lot about the government..." Tsunade muttered, sneering slightly. Sai glanced at a guard, the man nodding and bringing a nightstick into the woman's stomach. She coughed in shock, doubling over and stumbling back. Naruto snarled and made a move to retaliate when Gaara shot him a look. The blond huffed and stepped down.

"There something you wanted?" Gaara asked, tone almost bored.

"Actually yes... but we're still missing the last three members of this conversation." Sai stated, glancing towards the doors. A few moments later a rather familiar silver haired man appeared, one eye covered with an eye patch, his military uniform pristine. Gaara took a step back, shock registering.

"You! You're supposed to be dead! I shot you!"

"I assure you, Gaara... I am very much alive...."

The red head turned and snarled, glaring at Sai. "The fuck is going on here?" he growled, taking a step forward only to be shoved back by one of the many guards.

Sai smirked, the action barely noticeable, turning to Kakashi. "Is Gai ready for us?"

"He's in the mess hall...."

-0-0-0-0-0-0-

If there was one thing Gaara hated about government buildings it was the never ending hallways. It took them a good fifteen minutes to get where they were headed and by then the four were clearly agitated. The situation was made even worse as a man grinned and stood to greet them.

"Ah! The ever youthful worker bees! I have long awaited your arrival!" He stopped short, his grin faltering. "You're so few... amazing! Simply amazing! I was right! You will make the perfect examples!"

"Perfect examples? The hell is this crack pot with a bowl cut talkin' bout!?!" Naruto squawked, offering up a look that clearly questioned the man's sanity.

"You're to be part of our newest training course." Kakashi explained, smirking slightly. Gaara's eyes narrowed.

"Start talkin'..."

Gai just laughed jovially, waving his hand in dismissal. "Nothing to worry about yet. But as of now you now belong to the government. Now! Kakashi will be staying on board you ship until I call upon you once more. When that time comes, you will report as ordered. Now! Enjoy your youthful day!"

Fifteen minutes later found them back on their own ship, four pairs of glares fixed firmly on Kakashi.