Chapter 8:

Monster

Mizu stuck closer to Gaara as they continued down the canyon path, someone relying on him to keep them safe was a strange feeling. He scanned the cliffs as they walked in silence; apparently Mizu wasn't feeling as chatty after almost dying. Who was it that set off the paper bomb? Are they after me or…

"Is that it?" Mizu broke Gaara's train of thought as she pointed to an opening in the canyon.

Gaara nodded and led the way out of the canyon and into a small field where wild flowers and herbs grew. Mizu immediately went to work; silently she gathered strange looking plants and methodically organized them into different pouches in her bag. Gaara watch her hands moving expertly and realized that some herbs she was dealing with were superdelicate. I guess I can understand why we're low on people with the skill to collect the herbs… I can't keep asking Mizu to gather them for us I need to hire someone who can get them when we need them.

Gaara spun around activating his sand shield just as a bomb exploded right in front of his face. They showed up faster than I thought. Three Ninja all clad in black stood in front of him, armed and ready to fight, they weren't wearing any headbands. Only three where's the fourth team member? Ninja squads usually traveled in a group of four; the lack of a member worried him. One of the ninja stood behind the other two weaving signs, the ground shook and giant boulders flew at him. Sand flew up from the ground and intercepted the boulders; the three ninja hesitated and backed away. Gaara threw out his hand, a wall of sand blocked off the pathway back into the canyon.

"It can't be… That monster Gaara?" One of the ninja whispered.

Gaara's eye twitched, and he raised his hand binding them in sand; he walked forward towards his hostages. If anger could produce steam it would be coming out his ears right now.

"I take it you weren't expecting me," Gaara growled at his captives.

"What's the Kazekage doing on an escort mission?" One of the ninja shouted struggling in vain against his bonds.

So, I am not their target? Then... Mizu? No, that can't be quite right either. Gaara raised his hand and made a slashing, the ninjas flinched. His sand cut the masks off their faces revealing their ninja headbands underneath, a mountain surrounded by water. The symbol was from a village way up north of the sand village but close enough they fought over resources sometimes. Ah, now I get it. They're here to kill whoever was coming to pick the herbs. This valley's too far for them to be using it for themselves; so, they must have wanted to stop us from making the cure… I should have figured the virus info would get out after we made it public. I didn't expect them to react so quickly. Gaara eyed his captives and all three of the ninjas looked at him terrified but defiantly. I could kill them but…

"Ah!" Mizu let out a surprised sound, Gaara spun around and found a female ninja binding Mizu from behind and holding a kunai to her throat.

"Release them!" The kunoichi shouted at him.

"Idiot, run! We lost the moment he captured us, flee!" One of her squad mates shouted.

The sand moved to cover their mouths so his captive couldn't speak. Gaara's pulse quickened as his sand whirled around him angrily. Mizu's mouth was drawn tight and sweat dripped from her face. Ah, I will kill them. Gaara's mind went numb.

"I said let them go!" The kunoichi pressed the kunai closer to Mizu's skin.

Gaara froze. "Let's kill them both! They're both annoying." A voice inside his head cackled. Shut up Shukaku! Gaara forced the mental link between him and the tail beast closed. Mizu's seemed to be shaking, and she was slowly grinding her teeth.

"Girl," Mizu's voice was low and dangerous. "Not that I think you will listen regardless of me saying anything but let go before you die."

Gaara's rage stopped as he looked at Mizu confused.

"HA! Do you have that much faith he'll be able to save you before I slit your throat?" The kunoichi laughed but kept her eyes locked on Gaara not leaving him an opening.

Mizu let out a sigh but her eyes creased in effort, "That would be nice if he stopped me from killing you."

… HUHHH? Mizu! This isn't any time for you to be acting tough, you'll die if you move an inch!

"HA HA HA, Don't try anything stupid. I don't feel any chakra coming from you, even an academy brat could tell your no fighter," the kunoichi snorted in amusement.

Gaara took a step forward, and the ninja pulled her blade closer to Mizu's skin making a small incision.

"I said don't move!"

Gaara stopped as a trickled of blood ran down Mizu's neck; rage pulsed through him.

Mizu smiled sadly, "I warned you."

"What are-!"

Green smile seeped out of Mizu's skin and clung to the woman.

"Gross what is this-! AHHH!" The kunoichi scream and released Mizu, the slime stuck fast as she desperately clawed at it. "What is this, get it off!"

Mizu let out a scream, falling to the ground, as more slime oozed out of her skin and engulfed the kunoichi. The woman flailed helplessly in the slime and then became still; Gaara stood in shock unsure of what to do. Shaking Mizu stood up, she didn't look at Gaara, walking over to the dead woman on the ground she held out her hand to the slime. It moved and jumped back up to her, Mizu clenched her teeth as it reentered her body. All that was left of the ninja was a charred corpse. Before Gaara could say anything explosions occurred behind him throwing him forward, turning over he saw that the captured ninjas had managed to active bombs blowing themselves up. Gaara could feel a headache coming on. So, much for integrating them but more importantly…

Gaara stood up brushing himself off, "That slime seemed incredible similar to the slime that came out of the patients. Why is that?"

Gaara turned around and walked over to Mizu whose back was to him as she looked down at the dead woman. He reached out and grabbed her shoulder, fury engulfing him; she looked up at him and he froze. Tears rolled down her face, her eyes red and puffy as she shook but she smiled at him. Gaara's heart raced, and he reflexively released her shoulder.

"Sorry what did you ask…? If the slimes are the same? Ha!" Mizu's laugh sounded more like she was choking, her smile faded and she put her hands over her face sobbing.

Gaara stood still some invisible force binding him to the spot. What is this? Jutsu? Can she make a person freeze with tears? How do I make her stop—wait a second! She could be the cause of the virus, this is no time for me to hesitate! Gaara went rigid as she laid her head on his chest and cried harder. W-wait a second! His heart raced and he couldn't bring himself to say anything else. Nothing came to mind to make her stop, so he just stood still. How do I get her to stop crying? Since his sibling had been more casual with him lately, they'd even invited him to movie night. In one movie there was a scene where a man and a woman were standing in the rain, the woman was crying and the man rubbed her head. That movie made no sense. Why were they standing in the rain! Maybe that would work? The woman in the movie stopped crying after that.

Gaara looked down at the top of Mizu's head; he reached up and rubbed it. L-like this? Oh, her hairs really soft are all women's hair this soft? He could smell the scent of a pleasant herb coming from it. I still don't understand why this would make someone stop crying?

"Kazekage you're messing up my hair," Mizu sniffled into his chest.

Gaara froze, heat rising in his cheeks as he removed his hand from her head. Never again. I will never copy a movie ever again. Mizu backed up and wiped away the last of her tears as she regained her composure. She quietly went back to work and finished collecting the herbs while she did Gaara used his sand to create graves for the ninja squad. When he finished Mizu walked over to him carrying her belongings.

"Do you normally do that with enemies?" She asked quietly.

"No, but I don't want wild animal to get to them before I can send a team to retrieve them."

Mizu looked up at him astonished. Crap, I shouldn't have told her that, this has been one of the worst missions ever. She probably thinks I am scary now. Wait, a second I still need to figure out the slime. If the slime is coming from her, then I can't let her back into the village. They walked back in silence, Mizu's eyes on the ground the entire time.

"They're the same," Mizu finally spoke up. "The slime from the patients and the slime I carry in me."

Gaara's sand whirled around him as the instinct to kill rose in him, he gripped his hand forcing himself not to act. Mizu noticed and smiled up at him sadly; a pang in his heart he didn't understand made him feel guilty.

"Are you trying to destroy my village?" Gaara asked doing his best to keep his voice level.

Mizu shook her head, "The slimes are the same but I control none of the slime that's outside my body. I am a vessel for it and a prison but unfortunately when my life is in danger it will react and kill the threat… The slime can't survive long without a host."

She houses it? That's like the tailed beasts but still if she's hosting this virus and spreading it around then she's still not good for my village.

Mizu got a faraway look before continuing, "I've been working with Yoki to track it and collect all the piece of this virus for a long time."

"How does the virus spread?"

"It jumps from host to host and stays with them until it gets to a heavily populated area... It's also not really a virus," Mizu gripped the strap of her bag.

"You make it sound like it's alive and can think for itself," Gaara didn't like where this was going.

Mizu's eyes glazed over, "It is alive. Its name is Shikkan, it's an entity that lives to kill and spread disease."

The entrance to the village was coming into view, Mizu stopped to Gaara's surprise; he turned around to face her.

She kept her eyes on the ground, "There's a bag in the room you've been letting me use, could you bring that to me?" She smiled up at him but it didn't reach her eyes.

"What are you talking about?" Gaara frowned trying to wrap his head around the situation.

The best he could figure was that this Shikkan was like Shukaku, but instead of turning into a giant monster and rampaging thru the village, it's a slime creature that worked death in a quieter manner.

"It has supplies for me and Yoki. I can't leave until I get all the pieces of Shikkan from your village; so, it will stop spreading but I understand if you don't want me to go back into it. After all, I am a monster," Mizu trembled as she smiled, her eyes dead.

Gaara felt another pang hit his heart, he realized how similar their situations where. I wonder how many times the village leaders tried to kill me or kick me out of the village. His heart hurt, it hadn't felt so heavy since he found out during the ninja war from his dead father that his mother really had loved him.

"Shikkan only activates when your life's in danger right?" Gaara looked away from her. "Then you don't need leave the village."

He turned back to Mizu and his stomached dropped when he saw the tears rolling down her face.

"Why are you crying! Did I say something bad?" Gaara panicked.

"N-no," Mizu laughed at him rubbing away the tears. "I am the type of person who cries easily once I start. I am not sad just surprised. You understand what I am saying right? I am carrying a monster that might kill everyone in your village."

Gaara paused then shrugged, "What's one more at this point."

Mizu stared at him like he'd lost his mind, "You're saying someone else in your village is harboring a monster-."

Gaara didn't bother letting her finish the sentence and turned around heading for the tunnel, "If you prefer camping-."

"Wait!" Mizu ran in front of him stopping him.

"What you prefer camping?"

"No, I forgot to say thank you for keeping me safe… and letting me stay," She smiled this time her face softened and it reached her eyes.

"That's unnecessary-," before Gaara could finish Mizu reached up and vigorously messed up his hair.

Gaara's face grew warm. What's wrong with this woman?

"That's for messing up my hair earlier," Mizu stuck out her tongue.

"W-w-wh-," Gaara couldn't get anything out, Mizu smiled then pulled his head down and kissed him on the forehead.

She released him and turned almost skipping down the tunnel, turning back around she smiled, "You kind of taste like sand."

Mizu entered the tunnel leaving a very stunned Gaara rooted to the spot, his hand touching where her lips had been.