Hello readers, Lumi here. Anyhow, if you read the description, you'd know that I deleted this story because my sister pissed me off (I also deleted BreadKittens on my iPad; what can I say, I am very impulsive). But we made up, so all is good again. here is another chapter - enjoy! Please review...I will love you forever. -Lumi xo

Chapter 4

The faint crescent of a moon glinted in the sky as two shadowed figures raced through the desert towards Suna. They wore black hooded cloaks that covered their faces and their long sleeves trailed behind them as they ran.

"Can you sense the target?" One of the two asked quietly.

"I can now," the other replied. "He has returned to the village."

"You are prepared?"

"Yes." Their cloaks shielded them from the sands in the wind as they traversed through the night.

Gaara couldn't sleep. Something was bothering him…despite all the guards he had posted, he still felt it wasn't enough. A sense of foreboding filled him as he gazed out his window. He couldn't shake the feeling that his village was in danger.

Perhaps I am imagining things, he thought. He narrowed his eyes. He grabbed his gourd and shrugged on a coat. One can never be too careful, he decided. He was weary and tired, but he wouldn't let that stop him. I will protect this village, he decided.

He stepped out into the open, and even the sight of the moon seemed like a narrowed eye gazing down evilly. With one hand, he plucked the stopper from his gourd. He let the sand flow around him, letting the flow of it sooth him. He thought of his beloved mother, Karura. He could feel her love in the sand as it embraced him. I need your help, mother, he thought. This village needs your help. He closed his eyes, and vanished as he body-flickered to the borders of Suna. Help me protect this place, mother, he thought.

Yumi sat alone in her small house, reading her novel. It was late, she knew, but the news that Gaara – no, the Kazekage, she corrected herself, had brought back had disturbed her. She sighed. They had been living in peace for so long that they had let their guard down. She had been particularly worried when she had been told that the enemy was seeking out ninjas with unique skills. She thought of Temari, with her amazing powers over wind, and Kankuro, with his puppet no jutsu. But most of all, she thought of Gaara. You're being silly, she told herself. He's the Kazekage; no matter how strong the enemy is, they won't be able to take him down.

Still, a worm of worry gnawed at her mind. The Kazekage had been captured years ago, by a member of Akatsuki. Could it happen again? Stop doubting the Kazekage! She told herself. Yumi frowned, and closed her book. She couldn't concentrate anyway.

Gaara-sama truly loved this village and would do anything for its people. That was part of why she admired him so much. She wished she could be part of the night guard, but only jounins were selected. A chuunin like her was practically invisible to him, she reminded herself.

She paced around her empty house, feeling lonely and afraid. She was an orphan, just like Rokuro. She didn't really have anyone. Yumi smirked, reprimanding herself for all that self-pity. I'm a lucky girl, she reminded herself. I live in a beautiful village with a gorgeous – I mean, generous, Kazekage.

Yumi crawled into bed, pulling the covers up to her chin. I will get stronger, she thought. For you, Gaara-sama, and for everyone in this village. With that, she dropped off to sleep.

"Gaara-sama! What are you doing here?" Baki asked. He was one of the jounin posted as guard tonight.

"Can't you sense it?" Gaara asked softly. Baki shook his head. "Something bad is going to happen. I can feel it."

"But surely all these guards will be able to handle any threat! If it were many enemies, we would have detected them long ago." Baki looked concerned for his old student. "You push yourself too hard, Gaara-sama."

"It is my duty as Kazekage to protect Suna," Gaara said solemnly. He had grown to love this village and would not see it damaged. He stood tall and crossed his arms, not out of stubbornness, but out of determination.

Baki sighed. "Very well. But you cannot do this every night." He put a hand on Gaara's shoulder, a rare sign of affection. "You need rest if you want to be strong. Remember that." Gaara nodded. It moved his heart that his previous mentor, who had once feared him and disliked him, now cared for him and respected him as the leader.

He opened his mouth to express his gratitude, but suddenly an explosion rocked the village. Gaara and Baki leapt back from the loud booms.

"They're here," Gaara said grimly, gritting his teeth.