AN: I've put off writing this fic for quite some time for a rather stupid reason-I couldnt think of a decent title to save my life! Personal fume aside, I've decided to call this fic "The Transition." It's a gapfiller that centers around Gaara and his siblings from the end of the Operation Destroy konoha arc to their appearance in the Sasuke retrieval arc. I should warn all of you in advance, it is a very angst filled fic and it gets graphic in some areas, and it will be long! Well, Ive kept you all waiting long enough, so lets begin, shall we?
The Transition, Chapter 1
The sensations were all very new and mostly unpleasant to him: His head and shoulder were throbbing, and to top it all he felt as though he were losing control of his body-He couldn't seem to keep at a steady pace for long, as it felt as though somebody had tied massive weights to him, making him stumble and lose balance on multiple occasions. It was ironic, for someone who had never slept, Gaara never felt fatigued before-the demon sealed inside him always provided enough energy to keep them both rested. But that boy had taxed the both of them, and Shukaku didn't have any energy to spare. Weariness crushed Gaara like a rock, and yet he didnt know that was what he was experiencing now.
"We're already behind schedule, Dont expect us to wait for you!" came a shout from several feet ahead. Kankuro had been in an extremely bitter mood: Learning that they had to cut around the usual path-where those Leaf ninja were sure to be tracking them-Infuriated him. The new route doubled the length of their journey, and Kankuro was badly out of shape. Gaara half stumbled-half ran down the path, attempting to catch up. A root halted his journey, sending him straight for the ground. He uttered a mental curse and braced himself for the landing and possibly more wounds. He landed, instead in his sisters outstretched arm. Temari had lagged just behind him, knowing that he entered this state every time that demon showed himself.
Gaara supported himself on his sister's arm, trying to catch his breath. He thought he had seen a glimpse of concern on her face, but shrugged it off as him seeing things.
"Who would show concern for a monster?" He thought, certain that if Temari was experiencing any feelings right now, it was either fear or disgust at the close proximity her demon little brother was standing to her.
Temari had to persuade Gaara to let him lean on her for the rest of the day, claiming that he looked "asleep on his feet" He laughed bitterly at that thought: if he really were asleep, his companions would be dead by now. Shukaku didnt play, he sated his bloodlust greedily, taking in every drop like a starving child. The beast liked to torture Gaara in his dreams while he devoured all in his path, often making him relive that night when he was six. For that, he refused to sleep, certain that the beast someday would devour what little sanity he had left along with his latest meal of blood.
They made camp beside a small stream, well hidden by the thick vegetation in the area. Temari did something odd that night-She offered to keep watch with him, beating Kankuro upside the head with her fan when he flat out refused. The two sat there, watching the moon peer from behind the trees. Temari soon lost her fight to stay awake and fell asleep with her back against a tree. It was about Midnight, Gaara could tell by the position of the stars, most of the animals would have finished their prowl by now, and any ninja would be asleep. He focused on the reflection the moon made on the surface of the stream, occasionally broken by a fallen leaf in the water or a toad jumping from a fern to a floating leaf, believing it was a lilly pad. He sat there lost in thought, thinking about the blond boy from the Leaf, about how similar the two were. Yet this boy didnt lose himself to that empty darkness that was his lonely mind. Maybe he had given up too easily. Maybe he had to show everyone they had little to fear. He became so lost in his musings that he didn't realize he had fallen asleep...
End of chapter 1.