Chapter 4
Lina walked into the house and, remembering Kakashi was gone on a mission, walked into her room to do her homework. She sat on the bed and took out her project for Iruka's class and continued working on it. When she was almost finished, she stood up and opened the door that led to her balcony. Kakashi let her have this room since he wouldn't have used the balcony as much as she would.
She walked out and looked over the rail, leaning against it. She looked down and when she saw Garra of the sand and his siblings, Temari and Kankuro, she smiled. Garra was also like her, and one of the other people she felt she could trust
"Garra! Temari! Kankuro!" She called, jumping down.
The three looked up just as she hit the ground, landing on her feet. Garra smirked and said, "You know, one of these days you are going to hurt yourself, Lina."
Lina laughed and said, "That's what you think. How are you guys? What brings you to Konoha?"
"We have to talk to Tsunade. It seems Orochimaru and Kabuto are in the neighborhood, and they're looking for someone," Garra replied, continuing to walk.
"Well, would you mind if I came with you? The house is empty anyway, since dads out on a mission," Lina said, sighing.
Garra smirked and said, "Sure. By the way, those earrings look good on you."
Lina laughed again and said, "Thanks. I like them, too." They were silent the rest of the way to Tsunade's tower. When they got there, Shizune, Tsunade's personal assistant, greeted them.
"Shizune-san!" Lina said, running up to her sister-figure and hugging her.
"Hey, Lina!" Shizune said, hugging her back. She knew that Lina would only show emotions around those she really cared about, and could trust, so she didn't mind.
"Is Tsunade-sama in?" Lina asked, smiling.
Shizune smiled and said, "She's in her office. She's been expecting you, Lord Garra of the Sand, Lady Temari, Lord Kankuro." The three sand ninja nodded and walked in, Lina right behind them.
When they got to Tsunade's office, Lina ran in and said, "Lady Tsunade-sama!"
"Hello, Lina!" Tsunade said, smiling up from her papers and trying to hide the Sake bottle in her desk.
Lina glared at her and said, "You've been drinking again, missy."
Tsunade laughed and said, "I never could get anything past you. And those are cute earrings, by the way." She then stood up and walked around the desk to shake Garra's, Temari's, and Kankuro's hands, saying, "Lord, Garra, Lady Temari, and Lord Kankuro! Such a pleasure to see you. Please, have a seat." The three sand ninja sat down in the seats in front of the Hokage's desk. She walked over and sat back down in her seat, Lina sitting on the window sill behind her, opening the window first so she could dangle a leg out. 'She's so different around people she knows so well.' Garra thought, a small enough smirk coming to his lips that no one else could see.
It quickly passed and he turned his attention back to Tsunade and said, "So, where do we start?"
"Well, we know who he's after by now," Tsunade said, stealing a look at Lina from the corner of her eye. The girl was zoning out, staring at the village around, humming one of the songs on her IPod. Tsunade looked back and saw the angry look on Garra's face. "And it seems that the Akatsuki are looking for her, as well," Tsunade said Garra clenched his fists, thinking.
He looked back up at Tsunade and said, "What has to be done?"
She looked at him and said, "You, Temari, and Kankuro will have some members of the Black Ops agents with you, and you will keep an eye on Lina. While she's at home, at school, everywhere," Tsunade said, leaning back in her chair. Garra nodded and stood.
He walked over to Lina and said, "Lina, we're going now"
Lina popped out of her thoughts and said, "Ok. Hey, do you guys want to come over to my place for a bit?"
Garra nodded and said, "That would be great."
"Great!" Lina said, smiling. She jumped down off of the window sill and walked over to Tsunade, giving her a hug. "I'll see you later, Obaa-chan."
Tsunade sighed and said, Just call me Tsunade-sama like usual, please? Naruto calls me that enough times to last me the rest of my life."
Lina laughed and said, "Ok. Bye, Tsunade-sama. Bye, Shizune-kun," she added, walking over and giving the girl a hug.
"Bye, Lina. You take care of yourself, ok" Shizune said, looking at her seriously.
"Ok, I will," Lina said, waving as the four walked out of the room. When they got outside the building, Lina let her mask come back up
"We'll be there soon," she said, stealing a small smile at Garra. He nodded and she could see the smile n his eyes. 'We're so alike, yet so different.' She thought as they turned a corner. When they did, Lina stopped with a slight gasp. Yushio and his group were up ahead, heading right towards them.
She grabbed Garra's hand and tuned around, saying, "Let's go this way."
"Why? Is something wrong?" Garra asked, looking up ahead.
"N-no. I just want to go this way," Lina said, trying to pull Garra, Temari, and Kankuro with her.
"Lina, just tell me what's wrong," Garra said. Lina turned around and was about to say something when she saw Yushio was right behind the three Sand nin.
"What's up, babe? Long time, no see," Yushio said, grabbing Lina's hand and pulling her to him, away from Garra.
"Let me go, Yushio!" Lina said, emotionlessly, no emotion showing on her face what so ever.
"You heard her, scum. Let go of her," Garra said, his face also emotionless.
"Who's this? Your boyfriend?" Yushio asked, laughing, as he wrapped his arm around Lina's waist and held her against him. Lina looked down and stepped on his foot, hard, making him release her. She calmly walked back over to Garra, Kankuro, and Temari, and grabbed Garra's and Temari's hands.
"Let's go guys, ok?" She said, pulling them around Yushio, who was still holding his injured foot, and his gang, who just stood there and glared at the four teens.
When they got far enough away, Lina looked at Garra and said, "Why didn't we just take the other way?"
"Because, if they're bothering you, I want to know about it. You are like a sister, you know," Garra said, not looking at her.
"Yeah, I know," Lina said as they walked up to her's and Kakashi's two story house. "Here we are," she said, taking out her key and unlocking the door.
The teens stepped inside, and Lina closed the door again, locking it. "I'll make some dinner," she said, walking into the kitchen.
"I'll help you, Lina," Temari said, setting her fan down next to the couch, leaning it against the arm. She walked into the kitchen after the girl and rolled up her kimono sleeves, taking her gloves off and storing them in her pocket. Lina pulled out the ingredients for their meal and each of them washed their hands. Lina then pulled out a frying pan and set it on the stove, setting the heat to the right temperature. She then pulled out two aprons and handed one to Temari.
"Are you serious?" The sand ninja asked, looking at the garment in her hand.
"Yes. You don't want to stain you clothes, do you?" Lina asked as she put her's on, and put her hair up into a high ponytail, letting her long bangs frame her face.
"Ok, I guess you're right," Temari said, slipping the apron on and tying it.
"Alright, let's get cooking. Garra, Kankuro, just make yourselves at home, ok? Watch some T.V. or something, "Lina called, starting to hop some carrots.
"Alright, Lina," Kankuro said as he sat down on the ouch, turning on the television and switching it to a movie as the girls cooked, no one noticed the dark figure in the tree outside watching Lina with particular interest, and watching her earrings swing from side to side as her head moved accordingly. 'I wonder why he wants her. All he said was to keep and eye on her. But still, I wonder…' the figure thought to itself, scratching its chin thoughtfully
"Dinner's ready!" Lina called as she and Temari walked to the table and placed the pans on pot holders so they wouldn't burn the wood.
When everyone was seated, Garra said, "It looks delicious, girls. Thank you."
"You're welcome. It was our pleasure," Lina said as they all started to dish out their portions.
A while later, as the teens were watching some television, Garra stood up and said, "We should be going. We have a lot of work to do tomorrow." Lina nodded and stood up as well, followed by Temari and Kankuro.
"I'll walk you guys out," she said, waiting for the three to get their things. When they made sure they had everything, Lina walked them over to the door and opened it for them. "I'll see you guys later, ok?" Lina said, a small smile appearing on her lips.
"Ok," Garra said. After the four made sure no one was around, ach of them hugged Lina, and when hey each said their farewells, the three sand nin jumped into the air and jumped from rooftop to rooftop, until Lina couldn't see them anymore. She turned around and walked back inside, closing and locking the door behind her.
'I think it's time for be.' She thought, walking into the bathroom and washing her makeup off of her face before changing into her pajamas and going to bed.