Symphony

Chapter 7: Nightmare of the Sand

Sasori and Naruto supported Gaara as they made a run for the village. One of the scouts had reported some 40 nin were headed for them and they were not friendly. Gaara was still weak and Guy was carrying Kakashi. "We'll never out run them!" Temari said as they crossed into the start of the desert. "Damn, let me think." Neji said, his mind spun rapidly as he weighed his options. They were less then 20 and most of that number were exhausted from fighting. Something flew past him and hitting the sand some 15 feet in front of him, exploded. "So, now I get to personally kill the Kazekage, and end his annoying village in one day. What a wonderful day this is becoming." And he started laughing. The enemy nin sent a cloud of shuriken and kunai. Suddenly they were in shadow, a wall of crimson sand had caught the deadly rain and hovered above them. The sand whipped and swirled suddenly changing into two flying foxes and shot the weapons from their open muzzles.

Those who attempted to run found themselves ripped to shreds by the sand or dragged below it to feed the scorpions. Suddenly a figure was standing before them, Sakura looked at the person and saw the person seem to blur slightly. Focusing her eyes as she had been taught she started to laugh, the sound startling everyone but the figure before them. "Sakura?" Naruto asked, questions in his eyes. Sakura walked toward the figure, her gait happy."Your late Ramen!" The figure replied and Kakashi's eye widened. "Not late... I didn't even stop for food! I got lost on the road of life?" Sakura was practically in tears of laughter, the two seemed to share a hug and an odd gesture. "Ok no more team 7 stories for you." The two walked towards them. When she got close a soft pop caught them by surprise and her ears and tail appeared to them. Now knee-length silver hair was held in a battle braid, but her gleaming purple eyes hadn't changed. "Greetings my Sanshou. I'm sorry it took so long to come to your aid."

Gaara was struck mute by the fact of who it was before him. But then he saw it on her forearm in plain view, the band of golden sand. "You use sand..." She smiled but then someone called out. "Akasuna! The clan is waiting outside of the Sand village." Yue turned her eyes gleaming. "Sundance, get Leafshade and give healer Dawnflower your aid. There are wounded." With a few more barked orders and Sakura chuckling at the struck stupid look on Sasori's face as well as the joy of the Lunar's at hearing her name. By the time they were on the move again, it was easier to move. "So Dawnflower, is it true you spent a whole month training under the Akasuna?" Sakura snorted at the Lunar Genin. "Yeah and why do you call her that? Its not her name or her title." Naruto asked. Sakura was aware of how many ears were listening to the conversation.

"You don't know Male? That female is, The Demon of the Red-sand! The Nightmare who rules the sands. We are well aware of her title as a Tailed-One. But, its not like most of us are comfortable being in her presence. And now knowing we are among one of her elements, is troubling. The bitch is ruthless." The female in question continued to walk as if she heard nothing. "We will take our leave of you now Sanshou, your clan and their allies deserve to walk you through the gates. Have Dawnflower call when your ready to meet with us." Then she turned and in a whirl of black flower petals was gone. The other two departed moments later with their own teleport Jutsu.

It took a day of rest and healing before Sakura was willing to go and call the Lunar. Baki, Gaara, Kankuro and Naruto and his guards stood as Sakura stepped some distance away to make the call. Sakura channeled her Chakra to her vocal cords and let loose an echoing howl, a few moments later it was answered. Seeing the swift, silent quadruped gait the Lunar held made Kankuro's jaw drop. When they stood six or so yards away all but one dropped to a full bow. The silver female stood before them. Gaara took a step towards her and a smile broke across her face. Suddenly she was hugging him, it startled Baki and Kankuro to see Gaara allowing it. "The last time I saw you Sanshou. It haunted me, being unable to do anything for the pain you were in." It hit Kankuro who the female was. "Your the Lunar nin that helped us that day. You shielded our escape." Yue laughed, her head nodding. Her tail flicked as she turned to see Naruto. "Were we not standing in public I'd have pounced you both with hugs."

The blonde only had time to smile before she was hugging him. A low rumbling purr felt in her chest. "My Naruto..." She nuzzled his neck before letting go. "We are here for two things. Myself for three." She chirped as they walk back towards his office the others dismissed to the chow hall. "Well to meet the Windshadow is One. Two is become allies with Sand Clan. That is where I have an extra task but now its even more fun!" Gaara only raised an unseen eyebrow. "It was to find you!" That was it, both Sakura and Naruto started laughing. "well you found me." Gaara said amused. Suddenly she froze one paw in the air. "Something smells wonderful! And I'm starving!" Gaara shook his head when Naruto's belly rumbled in agreement. He noticed the shop and led them inside. A nearly soundless hiss came from the Fox-nin next to him when the woman gave him a sultry smile as she showed them to a table.

His amusement nearly made him smile when he watched as she manipulated some sand to cause the woman to run to the restroom to remove it from such embarrassing and uncomfortable areas. The guys had smirks they were trying to hide. "That was mean Ramen." Sakura shocked the guys, she called the woman Ramen? "Stuff it Pinky. I haven't had no Ramen since I left Leaf Clan. 'Sides Pinky, you'll have to put up with me all the way back to Leaf. When we leave here I have to meet with the new Fireshadow. I am here to personally open trade between the Moonlands and Sand and Leaf Clans." Gaara posed a question to the nin. "Why only us and Leaf?" She smiled. "My only trusted people, are among one of those two clans. And all three sit at this table." Shock and warmth flooded a couple hearts at her words. "All my pack-mates have gifted me something, so it is only fair I help those they care for in return." Sakura raised an eyebrow. "What gifts were you given? If I remember the lessons you beat into my head correctly, you had to have presented gifts first." Yue laughed. "I did. At the tournament." Yue sipped her drink then continued.

"Between the first and second tasks I forged gifts for the two who called to me. I presented them just before the second challenge. Each gift is suited only to the one for whom I made it." Kankuro didn't understand a damn thing the woman said. "Who were they and what did they get." Kankuro asked. Yue turned her head, her muzzle in the air. "Its rude among my people for a female to share that, gifts are deeply personal." Naruto spoke next pulling something from his shirt. The Fox and moon pendant glittered in the sunlight. "She gave me this, I've never taken it off." Gaara unbuttoned his collar and removed the sand-glass. "I was given this, and I had taken it off for a ceremony before the attack and put it back on this morning." Sakura only smiled but spoke. "I was given a months training under her and then presented with a Kimono after the tournament was over." Kankuro just sighed and shook his head.

Gaara ordered something called a Sand-dumpling and when the order reached the table, he offered Yue one. "Smells delicious!" She bit into it and her eyes widened and a deep happy purr could be heard from her. "Mmmmmm Chocolate! I've always wanted to taste it." Chuckles echoed from the rest of the table and they got another order to go as they walked back to Gaara's office. Once safely inside she relaxed and they settled around the office. Gaara spoke amused. "Well its not all that known yet but I will be traveling to Leaf when they leave. So we will be traveling together I hope." His raspy voice said and she smiled at him. She looked at Sasori and her ears twitched. "This is Sasori, a cousin I never knew I had." Gaara said and Yue smiled. The others departed sometime later leaving only Naruto, Gaara, Sasori, Sakura and Yue in the office. "There is much unrest in my homeland. Blood-packs are at war, of the eight with Tailed-One titles only three have not come to the Sunlands to hunt for territory."

The Fox-nin shook her head as if to clear it. Naruto saw and asked. "Yue you Ok?" She smiled at him. "Its the bond-chakra, its pulling me again." It was Sasori who spoke next. "Chakra Pull?" She breathed softly then answered. "Its something that we have never been able to explain, Its like a constant pull on a Lunar's soul. We ache to be near to someone or a select group of someones. The Lunar after meeting a bond-mate, which is what we refer to the one your pulled to, is unfailingly loyal to that person. Those with more then one bond-mate are called to ensure peace between mates and to the care of those they are bonded to. Bond-mates tend to be very strong apart but together can seem to double their power. When the Lunar has found all its Bond-mates, a band is forged from their Chakra signatures and each has a symbol representing the others." She paused to breathe and they saw her ears flick back and forth. "Once the Lunar finds them we are driven to see them safe and protected. In the case of those who have more then one its different." Gaara raised an unseen eyebrow.

"How different?" Yue suddenly folded her legs and settled herself on her rump on the floor. Eyes widened seeing the female's actions. "Its pretty much always Tailed-Ones who have more then one Bond-mate. The old ones think its to balance the massive amounts of raw power we are able to use. Never has their been more then four bonded to a Lunar. And never two Lunar's together. Bond-mates are always from the Sunlands." Sakura's eyes went wide. "The bond-chakra! I get it!" Yue's tail curled around her but stayed off the stone floor. "Sakura?" Naruto asked. "Its a pull, a calling, its hurting her to not answer." Gaara looked at Yue, his jade eyes focused. "How is it answered?" She hissed and a low whine crawled out with her words. "Now that your aware, touching seals the bonds." her claws dug into the stone floor as she hunched over growling. "I don't want to force anyone to be tied to me. My own people hate me, those who choose to bond would be forced to endure my memories, the fear and hatred of my own kind and others."

Sakura popped off a question that had the men looking between them. "Your The Kyuubi. Which means you have more then one bond-mate correct?" Yue nodded, her ears now folded back in pain. Something smacked Naruto and he gasped. "Its us! Your bonded to us. But if touching seals it, why are you still in pain?" Yue hissed. "You were not aware, I would have greeted you that way regardless of being bonded. Not even I was aware until I started to explain." Naruto stepped towards her and he saw the tremors she tried to suppress. "If you touch me, you'd be trapped with me. I'd always be near, bond-mates are forever. Not even death breaks it, or so its said. I would always be able to find you, all that I am would be yours and you, mine."

Suddenly a hand reached out and laid between her ears. Gold Chakra swirled around the office. "Gaara.." Naruto said and then a grin and his hand found an ear. Blue and Crimson Chakra joined the Gold. Sasori was at war with himself, he had always been alone, then he realized he had crossed the room and his hand now rested on her back his Silvery-blue Chakra joined the others. Black, blue, crimson and gold spiraled through the four. Sakura had barely had the time to set up a barrier to prevent anyone from knowing what was going on before the four collapsed in a pile. The four awoke sometime later each looking at the others with understanding. "That was only the first stage of the Bond. I haven't found everyone yet. But now I know I'm not the only one." Long fingers rubbed an ear and her tail wrapped around a waist. In her lap blood red hair was getting groomed by her fingers, the jade eyes were closed as he sorted through the memories of the others in his head.

Within an hour they were back to normal again. Sakura was trying not to laugh when Naruto was trying to scratch an itch he didn't have. "It itches!" He whined and the other three laughed. "it's more like Who itches." Gaara rasped and the others chuckled. Yue's eyes narrowed and she curled herself up and focused in ward. She could see the strands of their Chakra wrapped around her soul. The thickness of the strands told her they were each powerful. But, both Naruto and Gaara could overpower Sasori with no issue when it came to raw power. Sasori's Chakra had a much more subtle 'flavor' to it. It puzzled her that Naruto had two colors braided together yet they were not merged. Sasori's swirled and danced but she had nothing to compare it to. "I'm not hot anymore."

Naruto blurted and the other three chuckled. "Your taping into their abilities unknowingly Naruto. You will need to train with this." Sakura said as she pointed to the others. "You might even get something really cool out of training." The blonde's eyes lit up. "What are you talking about Sakura." Chuckles came from the shaded corner behind Sakura. It was only shaded because red-sand was shielding the stretched out nin on the floor. "One of the most feared bond-mate abilities. Combination Jutsu. Gaara and I should have very little issue to use our sand together. Should be a beautiful attack. Got to figure out your Chakra affinities though." She mumbled, before drifting into sleep.

Deep rumbling purrs came from the warrior as she awoke, twitching an ear she realized hot breath was blowing on it. Warm weight was curled against her and the thrumming Chakra below her skin told her it was more then one of her bond-mates. She wondered where her third was, as he was not dispersed in the pile. She opened her eyes and cast her glowing gaze around, finding both her sleeping friend and absent bond-mate. She knew he was aware of her gaze, but she said nothing only enjoying the silence of the night. "Few could keep silent for so long." He said sometime later. "Silence can be enjoyed, the desert has its own music at night to listen to." Sasori chuckled from the window sill, his messy red hair almost silver in the moonlight. "I never thought anyone would be like me. To understand pain like this, it agitates me that I was unaware of it." His soft voice growled. Her tail moved and tugged the blanket a little higher on Gaara who was curled into her side. The memories of the pink-haired one spilling his linage and last name in the cave, had shaken the puppet master. He hated not to be sure of himself. "Patience is also not one of my best known traits, I'm rather well known for a lack of it actually. But I am sure of one thing no matter how alone we have all been prior to this day never will we be so again. Come join us and sleep. I don't want to be the only one used as a pillow, un." For some reason the mild annoyance in her tone with the un brought a snort of amusement out of him.

"That statement vastly reminded me of the wannabe artist I traveled with." He didn't want the female to see she had unsettled him, so he snatched a pillow off a nearby chair settled down next to the pile. Only to find himself tugged three inches and his belly used as the fox-nin's pillow. "Mmmmmm. Good smell, like pine and sandalwood oil..." She trailed off and when he looked down he was shocked to realize she had fallen asleep on him. With an amused huff he relaxed into his stolen pillow and willed himself to sleep. Sakura woke early the next morning and on opening her eyes had to promptly silence herself from giggling. Naruto was hugging one of Ramen's legs while using Gaara's back as a pillow. Gaara was huddled into the fox-nin's side and burrowing his face into her to escape the light, his legs tangled with Sasori's. Sasori's head was resting on a thin pillow supported by the fox-nin's forearms, her head resting over his heart. Large triangular ears were pointed in her direction when she shifted, so she knew at least Ramen was aware. She smiled and a few minutes later drifted back off in her pair of chairs for a couple hours more rest before the sun rose and it got hot.

Waking for the boys had been an embarrassing affair, Yue had simply stretched her body out some and ambled over to a laughing Sakura. "Come on Pinky, feed the belly demon." Stomachs rumbled in agreement and the group wound up in the Kazekage's home for breakfast. Sakura cooked, Yue stretched. Temari was looking at the others and after breakfast. Temari offered the girls female heaven. "How bout we take a trip to the bath house. Its got natural hot-springs here." Both agreed gratefully and the fox's comment as she stood on two legs had Temari in tears of laughter. "Do the boys get to come too? I want to wash their hair for them.." Sakura could see Naruto's nose bleed, Gaara and Sasori had looks of shock on their faces, before they faded into blankness again. "Wha? Did I say something wrong?" The purple eyed fox looked back and forth trying to get a response but got nothing...

-In the hot spring-

Soaking in the bath had been divine, and Temari had sat on the ground for twenty minutes and laughed at the looks on the males faces. They were on their way back when a younger lunar nin came up to Yue. "Akasuna, I wish to see Leaf Clan. May I travel with your pack on the wind?" The Fox-nin thought about it for a moment. "You have yet to earn your name Fledgling?" The smaller female curled her tail next to her leg and folded her ears back, lowering her head as well. "No, not yet Akasuna. None of the experienced Warriors want someone who can't use Chakra based attacks yet. I'm less then useless to them." Yue flicked her tail the hot breeze ruffling her tail fur, the desert whispering to her. "Come, You will learn from me. Fair warning, I am no easy master. You will work on many different tasks to improve yourself. Sleep and eat hearty, find a place to watch the tower for my departure. Keep alert or be left here." The female bowed and with a abrupt. "Yes Master Akasuna!" Darted off to do as told. Noticing the questioning look she was getting, she led them to a shop and ordered a pitcher of cool juice.

Yue took a few drinks before speaking. "Lunar's earn our warrior names. I am called Akasuna because I am the sand user who stained a square desert mile with the blood and remnants of my foes. Akasuna means Red-sand. It was that or something else. In our culture your warrior name is given to you by your um, Sensei I guess is the equal to you. I also need to speak to Sasori before we leave. I need his thoughts on something. A Lunar's personal name is only spoken by the closest to them. Those with Tailed-One Titles are referred to by them. I am called by my warrior name not as a sign of respect but out of terror, I am the only known sand user among the Lunar warriors. I am as feared as the Mighty Lord of the Sands. I am not known for my good nature."She was explaining more to Temari then Sakura as the Pink-haired healer had seen some of it first hand. Temari looked at the lunar nin, though her face was expressionless her mind was whirling. Was this girl like Gaara, like the boy Naruto? Looking at Sakura only got her a raised eyebrow. She knew what it meant. The leaf ninja wanted her to make her own conclusion. Temari remembered that day fleeing from Leaf. The Summon had taken them out smoothly and without too much issue. They had all heard what the other Lunar-woman had said, her own people were afraid to stay to near her in the village. Because she could use sand. Temari was no fool, she noticed the sand-bangle around the fox-nin's forearm. She could feel her brother's Chakra in it. None of the villagers had an issue with the Lunar-nin though; rather most of the food shops would call out to the nin and offer her a taste of something.

If she liked it she usually bought a large amount of it, and then stared at Gaara and Sasori until they would join her and Naruto for the food. The fox was well known for one thing in the sand village, her sweet tooth. She loved Sand-dumplings. If she happened to walk by the shop when a fresh batch came out of the oven, she would freeze in whatever she was doing. Turn and vanish into the shop. She'd pop back out a few minutes later with a rather large platter full of the treats coiled in her tail and walk around nibbling on them. Kankuro had learned the hard way not to touch the fox-nin's treats. He had tried to be sneaky, and gotten three of his fingers broken. Sakura had laughed at him the entire time she healed him. Sasori had more guts then most after hearing what the female had done to Kankuro, he decided to try it with one minor change he didn't sneak. He reached out and picked up a dumpling out of the fox's tray. And munched it. She had looked at him, eyes bright then burst into laughter. "Few have such courage." She said.