So here is the next installment of Life in the Sand, I didn't expect to get it out this fast, but my fingers didn't want to stop typing.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
I stared at Gaara blankly for a few minutes. My gaze went down to the manila envelope, the contents of which would seal my fate.
Hesitantly I walked forward till I was close enough to grab the folder from Gaara. I took a deep breath as I pulled the letters out of the folder. My eyes widened as I read the page.
"You...this...I..." My brows furrowed.
It read the following:
Due to the high security risk that has now befallen Suna, the one known as Anna will be subjected to the life as a civilian in Suna. She will not be allowed to leave the village for any reasons, if she sets foot outside the city she is to be killed on the spot.
She will go by the Alias of Ai Takahashi.
If asked why no one has ever seen her before, she is to responded by saying the she just moved to Suna after traveling her whole life. She is not to be allowed to have any contact with anyone that is a Shinobi nor is she allowed to disclose who she truly is and where she is from. She is also not allowed to partake in any fighting what so ever.
If any of these rules are broken, Anna is to detained immediately and sentenced to death.
The other papers were all identification papers and what not. My jaw clenched as I read the papers again.
"Is there any other rules I need to be aware of?" I asked giving Gaara my best I-hate-you look.
"That is all. Though there will be someone watching you at all times." Gaara said not even fazed by my hostility.
I turned away from Gaara and looked out the nearest window. " I died in my world only to be sentenced to the hell of this one." A small laughed escaped my lips as a few traitorous tears fell from my eyes. "Why the fuck not."
The door to Gaara's office opened and Temari stepped in.
"All the preparations are complete."
"Temari will show you to where you'll be living." Gaara said dismissing us.
Without looking at him I clutched my life sentence to my chest and silently followed Temari out of the room. Once we got outside I shielded my eyes from the harsh sun, this place was a barren waste land, but was beautiful in it's own right.
After walking the numerous streets, we stopped in front of a moderately sized building. Temari handed me that key and after a small nod, left me there on the doorstep of my new 'home'.
Unlocking the door I sighed as I stepped into my new life.
I spent the next three months adjusting to Suna. One thing that I learned was that my house belonged to a kind old lady next door. Gaara had given me enough money to last a couple of months, so I got a job as a waitress at one the restaurants in town.
I even bought new clothes. I wore a black mess shirt underneath a red halter top that showed off my stomach. Black shorts and knee high black and red leggings, and black strappy high heels. I kept my hair short as always though.
I was currently walking around the village admiring the beautiful day. It wasn't that hot out today so everyone was out enjoying the day. I stopped in front a stand that was selling small trinkets, I was looking through the items when a commotion to my left caught my attention.
A group of drunk men was surrounding a small woman. It was obvious what they was trying to get the woman to agree too. Many onlookers backed away, hinting that these men were not civilians.
The woman was obviously scared as the four men jabbed at her. Not caring that I was breaking the rules I made my way over to the group and tapped one of the men on the shoulder.
He whirled around and I had to hold back my urge to vomit as his eyes ran over my body, a drunken smile formed on his face.
"Look at this one boys, she's more appealing than that one."
One of the other men looked my way and shrugged. "Grab them both, the more the merrier."
"How about you let that poor woman go, go home and sober up." I said in warning a tight smile forming on my lips.
"How about you get lost." Another said coming to stand by his buddy. "Or on second thought why don't take that clothes off."
His hand reached my arm and I quickly reacted before he could touch me. I grabbed his hand and twisted his wrist back forcing him his knees, he let out a pained yell. The guy standing beside us threw a punch in my direction, but I leaned back to avoid it and twisted my body to kick him in the chest.
I brought my knee up and slammed in into the guy that kneeling by me, as both fell the other came at me. I blocked ones punch and bent low to sweep his legs out from underneath him. The other one grabbed the back of my neck as I stood up. I reached behind me to grab his shirt before throwing my body weight forward, flipping over me and slamming him into the ground.
I felt a sharp pain erupt from my side as the one that I kicked in chest cut me with his kunai. Bringing my leg up I kicked the knife out of his hand and pivoted on foot to send a well deserved round house kick to the side of his face.
That was two down for the count, the other came at me and I ran to the nearest building, running three steps up the wall to back flip off and land behind the guy. Since he was drunk he ran right into the wall and knocked himself out.
The only one left was the one that I busted his nose open. Running at him I jumped up and wrapped my leg around his neck before falling backwards and using my leg strength I sent him crashing into a nearby stand.
I looked at the woman who was staring at me with wide eyes. A civilian just took out 4 ninja, granted they was drunk, but still it was sight most haven't seen before. I walked forward only to feel a sudden stitch in my side, looking down I placed my hand over the deep gash in my side.
"Fuck." I whispered as blood poured down my side and legs, dripping onto the ground.
There was swirl of sand and a masked Ninja was suddenly in front of me, he grabbed my arm before making a hand seal and causing us to disappear in another swirl of sand.
I stumbled as my equilibrium was jostled, I hit something hard and thought I saw Gaara's face in front of me before I pitched sideways and passed out.
When I awoke I could hear voices around me.
"She took down all four of them? Impressive." That sounded like Kankuro.
"Yes well, she was hurt in the process. This wound is deep." Is that Temari?
Something was pressed into my side and I cried out at the stinging pain.
"Holy fuck that stings."
"Good."
I opened my eyes to see Temari and another lady hovering over me. The lady was wearing one of those white medic garbs, so I was going to guess that she was a medic nin.
I was being tilted on my side, so the medic could have better access to my wound. Temari was the one holding me up. From the looks of the room I was in, it looked like a hospital room.
Behind Temari I could see Kankuro and Gaara.
"What happened?" I asked gritting my teeth as the medic dabbed at my wound again.
"Well after you attacked those four men, you got yourself hurt and while someone was bringing you to face Gaara's wrath you fainted." Kankuro said smiling.
"I didn't attack those assholes, I was defending the defenseless woman that they was forcing themselves on. I gave them the chance to leave her alone, but like the drunken idiots they were they didn't listen." I said haughtily.
"Yeah we know, I was just teasing you dang." Kankuro said waving his hand in my direction.
I opened my mouth to retort only to snap it shut as a needle was inserted in my skin, I winced as my flesh was pulled together.
"Damn it, how bad is it?"
Temari looked at me. " Well lets just say you was nearly cut from front to back."
"That's fucking perfect."
Temari sat me up as the medic began to wrap bandages around my mid section. "I healed the internal damage that you had, there will be a scar though however." The medic said as she finished and cleaned up her mess.
"Yes, thank you." I said as Temari let me rest against the pillows.
"Where did you learn to fight like that?"
I looked up at her and smiled. "My dad owned a Taekwondo dojo, I was taught how to fight and defend myself by him and his slave driving master. I also know Jujitsu and Aikido."
"That's how you did all those fancy moves."
"You seen the fight?" I asked my eyes widening looking at the three.
Temari smiled. "Of course, we was coming back from some routine checks when we saw those guys start harassing that woman. We was going to step in, but then you interfered and we got to watch some pretty impressive entertainment."
"I know broke the rules by fighting, but I wasn't just going to stand there and do nothing." I said as I sat up to look Gaara in the eyes. "I will never stand by and let an innocent get hurt, so go ahead invoke your Kazekage power and give me my punishment."
"You are balsy." Kankuro said laughing. "Can we keep her?"
Gaara stared at me for a few minutes. "Seeing as how it was my men that initiated the attack and a civilian was hurt while protecting another civilian. No rules have been broken."
A smile stretched across my face and let my arms give out, falling back on the bed. "There's the Gaara I admire and respect." I said before slipping into unconsciousness.
.-Gaara-
As the girl passed out, he turned to leave the room, Temari and Kankuro following behind him.
"Maybe we misjudged her ya know. These past three months she has proved that she is trustworthy, if the reports from all the ninja watching her are accurate." Kankuro said as they walked down the hall and out the hospital.
"It's hard to justify her trustworthy just because she is a good civilian." Temari interjected.
"True, but still. Did you see the way she fought? She took out two chunin and two jounin all by herself." Kankuro looked up at the sky. " I think we need to give her a chance."
"A chance for what?" Temari asked.
"I don't know, I just have this feeling about her."
Gaara listened to what his siblings were saying. Both had valid points. Yet, they didn't know enough about the strange girl to even began to think about what to do with her. They would need more time to watch her to see if they could truly trust her.
-Anna-
I spent a week in the hospital. Since I was just a plain old human with no chakra control, my wound healed very slowly. I was saddened that my clothes were ruined, but luckily I had extra's. I couldn't wear the mesh top thanks to the bandages but that was okay.
I was night time here in Suna, it got cold at night so I had a long-sleeved sweater and pants on as I sat on top of one of the water towers. It was pretty high up and gave a great view of the village. I was laying back star-gazing when I felt someone watching me, tilting my head back my eyes connected with light Blue-green.
It's been a week and a half since I seen him at the hospital. He was dressed in his usual red coat, vest and pants.
"I always did like that outfit a lot better than the one you wore when you was first introduced at the Chunin exams." I said talking more to myself than him. "Your hair is still spiky, even though Kishimoto made it go flat after the war ended."
I sighed and looked back up at the sky. " Back home you cant see the stars at night. There is too much light and car exhaust polluting the air everywhere."
"I had this friend back home, her name was Chelsea. She was always getting into trouble and I would always save her, no matter the circumstances. I remember one night when we was 16, she called me saying she was stranded in a town that was four hours away from where I was. She asked me to come get her and at first I said no, it was 1:00 in the morning and I didn't want to drive all that way, but like the loyal friend I was I drove all the way out there only for me to arrive and someone tell me that Chelsea was picked up already by someone. Man I was so mad at her for that."
I smiled at the memory.
"She died though that same night, the guy that was taking her home was someone who she trusted, but that didn't mean anything. While taking her home, he made a detour and since Chelsea was drunk he took advantage of her. She was raped and beat to death by him. "
Pausing I took in a shaky breath. " I was lucky to get lost on my way home and I took the same road that the guy took her down, I saw the truck on the side of the road and since the moon was out I could see two silhouettes out in the field. I knew one was Chelsea immediately so I called the police, by the time I got the guy off her it was to late. She was already fading. The guy didn't take to kindly to me interfering and attacked me, and I don't know if it was because I was in shock or if it was anger that fueled my response, but I beat the shit out of him."
"By the time the cops arrived I had already broken the guys arm, legs and collar bone. I also made sure that he could never use the tool between his legs again, I had fun smashing that to pieces."
I looked back at Gaara, he was sitting now on the other side of the water tower. He wasn't looking at me, instead he was gazing out over the village.
As silence took over I closed my eyes and started humming, my humming turned into me softly singing.
I remember years ago
Someone told me I should take
Caution when it comes to love
I did, I did
And you were strong and I was not
My illusion, my mistake
I was careless, I forgot
I did
And now when all is done
There is nothing to say
You have gone and so effortlessly
You have won
You can go ahead tell them
Tell them all I know now
Shout it from the roof tops
Write it on the skyline
All we had is gone now
Tell them I was happy
And my heart is broken
All my scars are open
Tell them what I hoped would be
Impossible, impossible
Impossible, impossible
Falling out of love is hard
Falling for betrayal is worst
Broken trust and broken hearts
I know, I know
Thinking all you need is there
Building faith on love and words
Empty promises will wear
I know (I know)
And now when all is gone
There is nothing to say
And if you're done with embarrassing me
On your own you can go ahead tell them
Tell them all I know now
Shout it from the roof tops
Write it on the skyline
All we had is gone now
Tell them I was happy
And my heart is broken
All my scars are open
Tell them what I hoped would be
Impossible, impossible
Impossible, impossible
Impossible, impossible
Ooh impossible (yeah yeah)
I remember years ago
Someone told me I should take
Caution when it comes to love
I did
Tell them all I know now
Shout it from the roof top
Write it on the skyline
All we had is gone now
Tell them I was happy (I was happy)
And my heart is broken
All my scars are open
Tell them what I hoped would be
Impossible, impossible
Impossible, impossible
Impossible, impossible
I remember years ago
Someone told me I should take
Caution when it comes to love
I did
I didn't mean to start singing out loud, hell or even at all for that matter. There was a lapse in silence between us for the remainder of the time I was out there. A yawn escaped me and I stood up, bidding Gaara a goodnight I climbed down the side of the water tower and went home.
When I went to my job the next day I was happy to find out that my boss knew what occurred and that I wasn't fired, I worked a double shift for the next week each day to catch up on the time I missed.
It was Saturday night and the restaurant was unusually busy that night. I was taking orders at table when a hush fell over the place. Glancing up I had to do a double take, there at the entrance was none other then the Kazekage and his siblings. The hostess jumped up and immediately led them to a table, which happened to be in my section.
I grabbed menu's and went to their table. "So what can I get you guys to drink?"
Their heads snapped up to look at me. Kankuro looked my outfit over. As a waitress we had to wear a black button up shirt, skirt, apron around our waist and heels if we chose to.
"Damn Ai I didn't recognize you in that uniform." Kankuro said in a lecherous way.
Temari smacked the back of his head. "Stop being a pig."
" All waitresses are required to wear it." I stated matter-of -factly.
"I bet they are."
Rolling my eyes at him I poised my pen over my notepad and looked at Gaara.
"What can I get you to drink Lord Kazekage?" I had to be formal.
"Water." He said looking at his menu.
"I'll have some tea." Temari said smiling at me.
"I want some sake." Kankuro said pursing his lips.
"Water, Tea, Sake. Okay I'll be back in a minute." I said walking away, weaving through tables as I went.
"Oh my gosh, the Kazekage is so hot, your so lucky to be waiting his table Ai." Saki, one of the other waitresses, gushed as she stared over at Gaara's table.
"I guess so." I said as I filled a glass up with water.
"Something is wrong with you if you don't think he is cute." Saki said placing her hands on her hips.
"I don't go for guys based off their looks, they can be the hottest guy in the world, but also be the biggest asshole too."
With that I placed all three drinks on a tray and carried it out to serve them.
I placed their drinks in front of them, even poured Kankuro's first glass of Sake before smiling a professional smile.
"Ready to order?"
Each placed their orders and in a flurry I took it to the cook. I knew their order was now top priority so I checked regularly to see if it was done. Fifteen minutes later they had their food placed in front of them.
Many people couldn't stop staring at them. I was serving a table down the line when a huge crash caused me to look up. One of the new girls had tripped and spilled her drinks on the floor. I made my way to her and after calming her down from her hysteria we cleaned the mess up and I helped her get her drinks again.
"Alright that's enough Sake for you." I told one of the regular customers and his friend.
"Awe come one babe, one more." He pleaded holding his cup up.
I smiled and took his cup away. "No, you always give me strict orders not to let you drink to much, so no more." I went to walk away but her arm snaked around me waist and pulled me into his lap.
"Jiro-san let me go." I said sternly trying to get up.
"Why don't we go out, I could give you a good time." He slurred into my ear.
"Jiro-san." My voice came out low as I gripped the tray in my arms. "Let me up."
"What if I don't want to?"
I looked up as my manager made his way over, this wasn't the first time that this happened with this customer. My manager stopped halfway as his eyes caught something behind me.
A hand came down on Jiro's wrist in a vice like grip, as he was trailed his hand up my arm. Looking up I caught sight of a very unhappy Kazekage. Jiro's buddy stopped laughing and stood up, trying to get Jiro to let me go.
"Let her go." Gaara told him calmly.
Jiro's fuzzy mind obviously didn't place just who Gaara was because his arm tightened around me. I hissed as he squeezed my wound painfully, his fingers digging into my side.
Gaara's eyes hardened as his grip tightened.
"Dude let her go, that's the Kazekage your challenging there." Jiro's friend said frantically.
The haze in Jiro's eyes vanished as he made the connection and he instantly let me go, I stood up quickly and straightened my top out. When I brushed my hand along my side it came back red. Great my wound opened back up again.
As I disappeared into the back, to the employee changing room. I took my apron and shirt off and unwrapped my midsection to look at my wound in the mirror. It was about 6 inches long, but was luckily a straight clean cut, no jagged edges.
I was pulling a shirt over my head when my boss came in telling me go home to clean myself up. I placed a hand against my wound as I walked out of the back and out of the restaurant.
"Ai!"
I stopped and looked behind me to see the new girl running over to me. She stopped in front of me and handed me an envelope.
"The Kazekage told me to give you this."
I nodded my thanks and curiously peered at the envelope. Once I was safely home I opened it and pulled out a note that read.
8:00 a.m. My office.
This should be fun...
Don't ask why I put a song in this chapter, I was listening to it while writing that part and thought eh, what the hell. Anna is from our world ya know so she knows music and other quirks we have here.
Oh and a special shout out to factmaster for following my story and making it a favorite. Your awesome!
Now hit that button down there that says Review and tell me what you think.
