Here's chapter four! Enjoy!
Gaara struggled to keep from falling unconscious.
Something was invading his mind, and trying to take control.
Shukaku? No! Shukaku is gone.
He opened his mouth. "K-kan...k-k-kuro!"
His plea for help was barely a whisper.
Crap.
The redhead held his hand in front of his face.
He watched claws tear out of his fingers with wide eyes.
Whats happening to me?
Kankuro felt strange.
All day he had been jumpy and he had been…sweating a lot.
It must be the brotherly instincts.
"Kankuro."
Kankuro looked up at Temari. "Hmm?"
The blonde handed him an envelope.
"Whats this?" he asked.
Temari tapped her chin, than shrugged. "I don't know, some lady from the medical lab asked me to give this to you."
Kankuro took the envelope with a nod.
"Thanks."
I hope there's news on Gaara.
Gaara was out of breath.
The Kazekage crawled over to his chair and pulled himself onto it.
W-what was….that?
He slowly pulled his hand into view.
He froze.
Is this even possible?
His hand was twice its normal size and covered in reddish brown fur. His nails had been replaced with large, black claws.
He wiggled one of the stubby fingers.
It's almost like a paw.
He began searching the rest of his body for anything…out of the ordinary.
He felt relieved when he knew that his hand was the only thing that had suffered from the change.
"Gaara!"
He whipped around and saw Temari in the doorway.
The blonde was shaking in fear with her eyes fixed on the paw/hand.
Kankuro opened the envelope carefully and began reading the letter inside.
Kankuro,
The medical team has found traces of unidentified DNA in your brother's blood stream. I wish I could tell you that nothing is wrong, but I'd be lying if I did. Please come as soon as you can! Bring Gaara too, he needs a checkup.
Natsumi
Kankuro cocked an eyebrow.
Natsumi, eh? Maybe she has a cure for Gaara.
He tucked the letter in his back pocket and started down the halls.
I'll go get him now.
Gaara slowly made his way to Temari.
"Temari." He said softly, "its okay."
His legs gave away and he fell down.
To his surprise, Temari rushed over and helped him up.
"We have to get you the medical team, stat."
Gaara nodded.
They turned to leave.
Matsuri was in the doorway now.
She gawked at Gaara's paw/hand.
Gaara closed his eyes. "Matsuri…"
She threw herself at Gaara's feet.
"Gaara! Why!? Why did you give in!?"
Temari brushed past her. "We have to go."
Kankuro was about to turn the corner, Temari and Gaara collided with him.
Ouch!
He blinked until his blurry sight cleared. He looked down at his chest. Lying on top of it was a big furry paw thing.
"OH GOD!" yelled Kankuro.
Gaara jerked the paw back and huddled against the wall.
What is that thing?
Kankuro watched Gaara's arm. It moved.
The things attached!
He looked at Gaara in horror.
The redhead did his best not to meet his gaze.
Temari helped them both up.
She pulled Kankuro aside. "Kankuro, the transformations started. He hasn't lost control, but we can't rule out the possibility that might happen."
He nodded.
Gaara, stay strong.
He walked over to his brother.
"Sorry about my freaking out."
Gaara merely nodded without even looking at him.
On their way to the medical lab, Gaara kept looking down at his paw/hand.
The furs spreading.
The fur, which had stopped at his wrist, was now at his elbow.
Temari, Kankuro and Matsuri seemed to notice too.
He sighed.
This pain is something I remember.
(Flashback)
Gaara held his arm up for Yashumaru to heal.
"Y-yashumaru, I'm sorry."
His uncle smiled. "It's okay, oh! Whats this?"
The smile turned into a frown.
"Gaara."
The child looked up.
"Go to your room and wait for me."
Gaara nodded and left for his room.
He sat up on the bed and pulled a book form the shelf above him.
He went to open it, he froze.
Dark blue streaks covered his arms and hands.
"Ah!"
He threw the book down and scooted up against the wall.
"W-whats happening?"
Sand hissed on the ground.
It collected at his feet and thrashed about.
He looked down at his hands.
His eyes widened.
His finger nails had disappeared completely and the skin felt more like leather.
The tips of his fingers had sharpened to a point and were tipped with black.
Hot tears began to stream down his face. "Y-yashumaru…"
He ran out of his room screaming.
"Yashumaru!!"
He ran down the hallway, sand trailing behind him.
By the time he reached Yashumaru's room, spikes had broken through the skin and the arms had thickened.
He banged his fisted on the door.
"Yashumaru!"
(End Flashback)
Gaara put a hand on his head and gripped his hair.
The first time I transformed was a long, long time ago. But this brings back memories.
Kankuro watched Natsumi examine the paw.
"Gaara, I'd estimate that you have a day before you finish transforming."
Three days have turned into almost five. This is the longest wait ever!
Gaara looked at Kankuro with a serious face. "Kankuro."
Kankuro looked up.
"I want you to take my place as Kazekage until I'm well."
Kankuro nodded. "I'd be honored."
Gaara nodded. "Good."
Natsumi shoved a needle into Gaara's paw.
Kankuro winced.
She drew the needle back out and shook the contents.
"I'll check it right away."
Kankuro gazed down at Gaara.
He felt himself tear up.
Darn you, brotherly instincts! You always come at bad times.
Gaara looked up at Kankuro and met his gaze.
It was a long time ago, but I remember it all too well.
(Flashback)
"Yashumaru!"
Gaara banged on the door harder.
No one answered.
The boy slumped down against the wall and began to cry harder.
A loud ripping noise filled the air.
He stopped crying and turned around.
A huge spiky tail protruded from his backside.
It curled around his body, freaking him out even more.
A tail, these arms, whats happening to me!
To make matters worse, the sand was being twice as clingy.
"Yashumaru!" screamed Gaara.
He curled up into a ball.
"He doesn't want me!" sobbed Gaara.
(End Flashback)
Gaara bit his lip.
That was possibly the worst day of my life, no, the worst day was when I died.
He felt something in his pants.
What the…?
The back of his pants seemed to explode when the tail pushed out.
Not again!
Poor Gaara and his exploding pants.
Review please.