I am proud to present the next chapter of my lovely story. I would also like to thank my wonderful should-be-editor Shelbie for getting me sick. I am sitting on my couch dying because of her hahaha. She was still sick so was also unable to proof read this chapter so that job has fallen to my sister Kyra. If the grammar is horrible then blame her. If its fine then thanks and I love ya Kyra. Well please enjoy and I only own my character and my story line. Everything else belongs to Naruto's creator Masashi Kishimoto .
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Ch.1
Gaara stepped outside into the bright Suna sun. He immediately shielded his eyes with his hand as he looked around. Kankuro closed the door to their house behind him.
"Lovely day isn't it Gaara?" he joked as he nudged his younger brother.
Gaara rolled his eyes. It wasn't his idea to walk to work today. He would have been perfectly fine with teleporting to work with his sand technique like he normally did but no, Kankuro had insisted on walking today. He said it was to work on his "image" with the citizens. Gaara walked ahead, annoyed leaving Kankuro to catch up.
The two siblings walked down the crowded streets, passing through large throngs of people. Some of the citizens waved and greeted them. Kankuro waved back. Gaara didn't.
"Come on Gaara, you need to be friendlier. The people would like you more if you didn't always look so grumpy"
Gaara glared at him, which scared Kankuro just a little.
"Fine, I'll drop it then" they walked silently for a few moments "Oh, I was going to ask. Did you hear about that strange disappearance last night?"
"No" replied Gaara, emotionless. His mind was too focused on the girl who hadn't shown up last night.
"Really, well it's what everyone in the village is talking about right now. Apparently two guys were attacked on their way home late last night" explained Kankuro as he walked next to his younger brother. Gaara simply nodded to show he was listening. "The one guy escaped but his friend was killed and taken away. They haven't found any trace of him. The guy that got away has gone completely crazy. He keeps ranting about a demon woman who came out of nowhere and attacked them with inhuman speed."
Gaara's thoughts suddenly flashed to her. Was that why she didn't show up last night? Was it because she had something to do with what happened? If anyone had been paying close attention they would have possibly seen that quick look of shock that passed over the young Kazekage's face. Gaara quickly swiped the thought from his mind. She was just a normal person. He assured himself that there was nothing special about her. "Interesting" he said, lacking emotion.
"Someone's talkative today" laughed Kankuro. The two continued their walk in silence.
Gaara soon became aware of a small commotion behind them. He ignored it for the moment and continued walking. The shouting was getting louder and closer. Gaara stopped and turned around to see a young girl running through the street followed by three sand chunin. Kankuro also turned around, having noticed Gaara had stopped.
She gracefully dodged through the crowd, causing more shouts and gasps from the surprised citizens. Her reddish brown hair glowed like fire in the sun. A mask covered her lower face. Gaara took a step back to avoid her as she jumped past him. Time seemed to slow. She turned her head to look at him as she passed by. She stared at him with deep hazel eyes, making the hair on the back on his neck stand up. He instantly recognized the girl. It was her, the girl from the roof. He stood there stunned as she disappeared into the mass of people and shops ahead of them.
The shinobi chasing her came up beside them, panting.
"What the hell was that about?" asked Kankuro
"Damn," panted the one in the front. "She got away… again."
"Who is she?"
"She's a thief" answered one of the others. "We've been chasing her around all week, but can't catch her. She's just too fast."
"No one can catch her," said the third. "We aren't the only ones who have tried. People are suspecting she had something to do with the incident last night too"
What? impossible… Gaara couldn't believe it. He had watched her. She had never shown any signs of being more than just a normal citizen. He could let her go on without his interfering if she was a petty thief but not if she was killing people. Kankuro nudged him.
"Gaara,"
"What?"
"You were just staring off into space. You okay?"
Gaara had gotten lost in his thoughts without realizing it. "I'm fine. Good luck in your search. We must be going now" He turned around and walked away leaving his brother and the three chunin standing there confused.
"Gaara…wait up!" Kankuro called after him. "Hey" he said as he caught up. "What's with you, it's not like you to space out like that. Is there something wrong?"
"No, I promise you I'm fine. I'm just tired."
"Why do I get the feeling you're not telling me something?" he asked, concerned.
"You're imagining it. I said I'm fine. Let's just get to work."
"Alright Gaara, if you say so…" said his unconvinced older brother.
Gaara tried to forget about what just happened. Why should I care about her? She's not my problem… yet. He cleared his mind as he walked up to the building his office was in. It was a busy day at work and all thoughts of her were quickly shoved to the back of his mind.
Gaara scowled as he checked the clock on the wall…
2:34 am…
He was stuck at work late again. He turned the lights in the office off and headed out of the building. It was mostly empty outside, save for a few drunks, whores, homeless and people like him coming home late from work. He hurried his pace, not because he was afraid, but because he was trying to get home as soon as possible.
Something caught his eye as he passed by an alley way next to one of his sister's favorite restaurants. A group of three shinobi were all gathered around something at the back of an alley. They were the same three from earlier. What are they doing now? The person in the middle picked someone up from the ground by the front of their shirt. They wore a hooded cloak that covered their face.
"What do you have to say now bitch? Eh? You're not so tough now!" He punched the person in the stomach. They coughed as the wind was knocked out of them but they did not cry out or protest.
"Is that all you got?" challenged a female voice weakly.
"You made fools of all of us, you know that? One little brat escapes three chunin. We're going to make you regret that."
The girl remained silent. The guy threw her against the wall. Her head hit the wall with a sickening crack, and her hood fell back as she slumped on the wall. Gaara's breath caught for a moment when her saw her. It was the girl from the roof… again. Somehow she just kept showing up.
"Hold her. I'm going to make her beg for her life" laughed the leader of the group. She did nothing to free or protect herself as the leader came at her with punches and kicks. She still remained silent.
Gaara stood there unnoticed. He knew he needed to help her, or she could die. But there were his rules, he had already broken the first one. Breaking both in one day would be a bad thing to do. He wouldn't let himself get involved in any way with a trouble maker like her. He was Kazekage, he couldn't afford to be recognized with thieves and criminals. He didn't want to cause problems and she was definitely going to cause them... then again, he had already broken the rules, what did it matter if he broke the other one? He was never one for rules. They were meant to be broken. The more he thought about it, he realized he really didn't care what people thought about him. He was the fucking Kazekage and he could do whatever the hell he wanted to. Plus, if she died here tonight there would be no need for the rules to begin with. There was something about this girl, something that made him want to save her. I need to find out what she is doing here, he thought, making up an excuse for himself. He knew he shouldn't, but he had to intervene. He stepped out of the shadows.
"What's going on here" he said, his voice frighteningly cold.
They all stopped what they were doing and looked up. There was a clang as someone's kunai dropped and the girl fell to the ground.
"Oh, Kazekage-sama, what are you doing out here so late?" asked the leader of the group nervously. Gaara could smell the alcohol on his breath. He realized they were all drunk.
"I'm asking the questions here"
"Well you see, this is the girl that was causing all the problems earlier. We finally caught her and… well…"
"This is how you handle it?" he interrupted
"Hai sir, she's a monster and can't go unpunished" replied one of the others
Monster The word echoed through his head. How many times had he been called a monster, all because he was different?
"Leave now, I'll handle this. You are to never do anything like this again. Leave the punishments to people whose job it is to do so."
"H-Hai sir" they all stuttered. They all left quickly running past Gaara.
He turned and watched them all scurry away. He waited for a few moments to make sure they were gone before turning around. He stood where he was, unwilling to move. She wasn't moving but she lay sprawled out on the ground, breathing heavily. He watched, trying to decide what to do.
This day is just full of eventful things isn't it?
"Are you going… to do something" she asked weakly, "or are… you going to just stand there?" She winced as she tried to move. The Kazekage walked over to her and looked down to where she was lying. His crossed his arms over his chest.
"Who are you?" he asked coldly
"What does it matter?"
"What were you thinking? Those guys would have killed you"
She opened her eyes and looked up at him "Your point?"
Just what were you doing? "Where you trying to get yourself killed?"
She laughed coldly. It was pained and sent chills down his spine. "So what if I was? What's it to you?"
"Don't you know not to pick fights if you can't fight back?"
"Who said I couldn't" She had started to shiver. Whether from cold, fear or something else entirely, he couldn't tell.
"Then why didn't you?" She wasn't making any sense right now. Was she really trying to get herself killed?
"They just… caught me at a bad time."
"What do you mean?"
"None of your business" She closed her eyes and clenched her teeth. It was obvious she was in a lot of pain, but she continued to act tough.
"I saved your life just now. You could at least tell me what's going on"
"I never asked you to" she replied harshly
"They would have killed you, had I not stepped in"
"I would have handled it" she growled
"Really now?" questioned the red-head. Her stubbornness had now started to amuse him. "Didn't look like it to me"
"Whatever" The girl curled her knees up and clutched her chest. "Just get away from me." She suddenly groaned in pain and dug her nails into her skin. She gasped for air as she curled up tighter.
"You need to go to the hospital" She doesn't look like she in any shape to go anywhere though. I guess I have to help her then… how troublesome. He almost smirked at how much he sounded like the leaf shinobi his sister was seeing. "Let me-"
She quickly interrupted him "No! I said get away from me"
Gaara sighed "I can't leave you here. You need help." He crouched down besides her and reached out to grab her. Her skin was hot. He could feel it even with his hand a foot away from her.
"Don't touch me" growled the girl.
"You need to get to a hospital. I'll take care of everything so don't worry about it" Why did I just say that? I don't even know her, so why am I offering to help? He reached for her again but she continued to protest.
"I said no!" Gaara stood up and backed away a little. "I c-can't go to… the hospital. There's nothing they could do for me." she panted. "You wouldn't understand." The girl cringed as another wave of pain hit her. "Go away… please!" She cried out in pain. Gaara could only watch as she squirmed in agony. He took another step closer.
"No!" she hissed through clenched teeth. "Don't come any closer" Her voice now sounded scared. She's begging me to leave… The girl once again cried out. He again could only watch. Her nails dug into her shoulders harder, drawing blood under the white T-shirt she wore. After a few moments her hands relaxed. Her body remained tense, shaking a little.
"What did they do to you?" This isn't normal. What's happening to her? Another question then popped into his head. Why do I care so much?
"Nothing"
"Then what was that?"
"Nothing"
"Nothing?"
"Go away"
"Is there something wrong with you?" That didn't come out right…
She was silent for a moment then, "Maybe" She said it so quietly he almost didn't hear her.
"What?"
"You ask too many questions. It's none of your business"
This worried Gaara a little. Not only was she hurt but she was also sick. He knew he had to get her out of there. If she wouldn't go to a hospital there was really only one place left to go, once place he knew she would be safe. He leaned down and picked her up in his arms, wrapping her cloak around her.
She weakly tried to push away from him but didn't have the strength. "I said don't touch me. I already said I won't go. Leave me alone!"
"We're not going to the hospital." She was hot, literally. He could feel the intense heat from her between all the layers of clothing.
"Put me down or I will kill you"
"You are in no position to be making threats girl."
"I-" She coughed hard a few times. Flecks of blood hit her white shirt, staining it.
"Calm down or I'm going to drop you" he sighed. This was getting annoying. For someone who was dying she sure had a lot of energy left to argue.
"Damn it… What the fuck is wrong with you? Why won't' you just leave me alone. I don't want help, especially from the Kazekage. It would be bad for both of us if certain people saw me with you."
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing, go away…" she sighed in frustration.
"It's my job to take care of the people of the Sand village."
"For the last time, I don't need your help. I can take care of myself. I'm not even a-" Her sentence was cut short as she growled and clutched her chest. Gaara could feel her temperature flare up again. It rose to an impossible temperature. She coughed violently, spitting up more blood onto her shirt and his. She clutched at her chest harder.
"We're done arguing about this. If you don't get help your going to die. We're leaving." She weakly shook her head but sand swirled around them and they were gone.
Sand swirled in a dark room. Gaara appeared, still holding the girl.
"Temari! I need help!"
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Well what did you think? Please let me know. Just some trivia for you; according to a survey that i just made up, sick people get better 70% faster when lovely readers review their stories ;) So please help me feel better. Spring break is in 3 days so I will have plenty of time for writing and updating this story, if I am feeling better that is. Plus I need at least three reviews before I post the next chapter. Hahaha thanks for reading.
Reiko
