Truths Unfold and Allies' Loyalties

GOMEN NASAI!!!! GOMEN, GOMEN, GOMEN, GOMEN:( I so sorry!!! I haven't updated in over three weeks, and I'm soooo sorry! I wanted to, but I couldn't. Have you people ever moved before? Have you ever moved out of state? On an eight or more hour trip? Then you know the pain that I've endured the past few weeks. First, when we moved, the house wasn't finished. So, I was banned to a house that belonged to a technology-challenged old person with no computer. For five days. FIVE. Then, when the house finally was finished, no one wants to hook the comp up for me. So, two weeks later, daddy is FINALLY curtious enough to hook it up for me. Then, up until now, there's been no internet. I am so, so sorry, and I really would have updated sooner! This goes for all of my series!!! This really was beyond my control, though, and I sincerely apologize for the ninth time:(

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Never have, and 1 out of 99,999,999 bazillion chances and a hundred dollar bill that I wish I had says I never will. Okay? M'kay. Now, read your long awaited update that I hope you've anticipated and that I am very, very sorry for not being able to post sooner!

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Kiele's eyes sprang open. She gazed rapidly around her. No one stood there. Blinking, she cleared her head.

"Takai-san... Aren't dreams only when you sleep? But, I don't sleep. So, what was...?"

(No, niave one. Dreams don't just occur in ones slumber. It can also be a daydream, or a reverie.)

Kiele blinked, perplexed.

"But then, what was...?"

"Oi, Kiele. I think that there's something you want to know."

Kiele's head perked up.

"This is just how my dream began!!"

"Hai, Kankurou-niisan! I know! You want to give me the remedy from Tsunade-sama that wil restore my-!"

"Woah, woah, hold on there, kiddo. What are you talking about?"

Gaara stepped out from behind his older brother. Kiele bit her bottom lip.

Did she really know what she was talking about?

"I... I had a dream... well, sort of. I wasn't asleep. More of a... reversie?"

Both Sunagakure shinobi's brows furrowed in confusion.

(It's called a "reverie", child.)

"A reverie," Kiele quickly corrected herself.

Kankurou waved her off.

"All yours, Gaara."

Kankurou left. Gaara stood beside of Kiele.

"Tell me about this dream first."

Kiele nodded.

"Well, I kinda saw Kankurou-niisan... he had a vial. It was a remedy that Hokage Tsunade had made to restore my memory. He told me about Akatsuki, then he gave me the remedy, and then I starting acting really weird. I called him a baka, and... I knew that this braclet meant I belonged to you. But, what does that mean? Why do I belong to you, Gaara-sama?"

She deliberately left out the end of her drem where she had went to Gaara's bedroom.

Gaara sighed. He cringed at the thought of Kiele regaining her memory.

"Actually, that's why I came out here. To talk to you about yourself. You're clueless, and it makes it hard for Temari, Kankurou, and I to talk to you, when we have to explain everything to you along the way. Kankurou so generously told me that it wasn't right to keep your own past from you. So, sit down and listen up. It's a long story."

Kiele folded her hands politely on her lap.

"I'm willing to listen, Gaara-sama."

Gaara sat down, lifting one knee, the other dangling lazily off hte edge of the roof. He rested his arm on it. His trademark sitting position. He stared out at the night sky.

"It was thirteen years ago. I was only one then. You were just born. I hate to say it, but from what Kazekage said, you were a mistake. Your parents never really wanted you, but you had a purpose. They took the spirit of a deceased sand phoenix, and it was sealed within your body at birth. But you failed in your purpose. You weren't a bloodthirsty, violent, selfish beast like your parents had hoped. In fact, you were quite the opposite. You were a modest, selfless, timid child. Your parents found no use for you, then, and they realized that to get revenge on the people of Sunagakure, for some "unjust cause" they accused the Kazekage had committed, on thier own. They betrayed Suna and allied with Kirigakure. They gave information on the sand's newest advances, military and political. They sold out the sand. They were caught, and as punishment, the Kazekage took you. He learned that you, too, like me, housed a demon within you."

Kiele gasped.

"You have a demon inside you?!" She asked incredulously.

Never taking his eyes off of the sky, he nodded.

"Yes. Shukaku of the sand. The spirit of a demon, sealed away in a tea kettle. But, just like me, you were a, "failed experiment". You became dangerous, intimidating even to the jounin of the village, without meaning to. You became neglated, shunned, loathed. So, you confided in the only one person who understood of your pain. Me. I, too, was hated like you were for the demon you had. Hated for something you could not control."

Gaara paused, reminiscing in the past. As he went on, his voice became more bitter, more angry.

"We became close, almost inseperable. But then, my father, the Kazekage, saw what was happening. He was afraid that the two of us would conspire against the sand, and eventually, kill all of its inhabitants. So, he seperated the two of us. I thought that you had betrayed me, and then when my uncle, Yashamaru, tried to kill me, I was confinced that everyone hated me, including you."

Kiele's eyes became wide as saucers. Gaara didn't notice, and continued.

"Eventually, you began to think the same thing. No one was ever there for you, and you were convinced that you were in fact on your own. You relied on no one but yourself, cared for no one but yourself. You were just as cold as... Just as cold as... me. Well, maybe you weren't as cold as me... but you were still more cruel than you should have been. Then, I attacked you one night. That's when the two of us really became rivals. I hated you with a passion, but you still stood by me..."

Gaara's tone softened.

"Well, then the Chuunin Exams came along. And our worlds changed. All four of us. Somethings happened there. I tried to kill you again, but you still defended me. You called me your friend, said that you'd always be there for me, but I still knocked you aside to get to Naru- err.. my opponent. It wasn't until you were actually on the brink of death that I began to feel guilt for what I'd done. By that time, the three of us, we were positive that you were... well, you were drowning in your own blood. Your injuries were bad. You may still feel pain from them now, and it wouldn't suprise me any if you had tons of brand new scars. In any case, you know the rest of the story."

Finally, the red headed Kazekage tore his eyes from the sky, and looked towards Kiele. She had her knees pressed against her chest, and her arms wrapped around her knees. Her head rested on her knees as she stared out at nothing in particular. Gaara bit his bottom lip.

"Maybe... I said too much?"

Kiele's ebony hair reflected red when the moonlight shone on it. Gaara had always thought of that as wierd. But neat, both at the same time.

"Now, before I forget... I wanted to talk to you about the Akatsuki," Gaara stated solemnly.

"They're a criminal organization. And Temari, Kankurou and I have just found out that they have grown a sudden intrest in collecting demons. That means, both you and I are in trouble. So is Naruto. Well, Naruto and I can fend for ourselves, but... you aren't so great off. Your basic level ninja techniques won't last a second against a group of rouge ninja like them. So, from now, on, I'm setting some ground rules for you. And they stay, unless I tell you otherwise. After all, I am the one who set these boundaries for you."

Kiele, still off in another planet, nodded. Gaara heaved an aggitated sigh, then flicked her ear. She snapped back to reality, lifting her head.

"I was listening, Gaara-sama," Kiele insisted.

"You'd better be," He snapped.

He lowered his hand, and continued.

"I don't want you leaving the house unless an jounin ninja is with you."

"Oh, but Gaara-sama- !"

"No buts. Either Temari, Kankurou, or I have to be with you. Naruto is still a genin, and Neji is just a Chuunin. So, that means that they don't count."

"But, you just said that Naruto-san can fend for himself- !"

"I said, no buts. None, Kiele. Remember that I make the calls when it comes to sand ninja."

Kiele plopped her head back in her knees. She puffed out her bottom lip. Gaara went on.

"Also, you now have a curfew. I want you back home by eighteen hundred hours. Not a minute later."

Kiele's bottom jaw dropped.

"The children of the village don't even have a six o' clock curfew!"

"Well, the children of the village don't have an insane criminal organization hunting them, either."

Kiele crossed her arms and pouted.

"I'm not a child, Gaara-sama. I don't need a six o' clock curfew and a jounin to accompany me everywhere!"

"Would you rather have Akatsuki get ahold of you and wind up dead?"

The corners of Gaara's lips flickered up momentarily at her childish attitude.

"Not a child, huh?"

"Well, I suppose, if it's for my life... but Naruto-san!"

"Naruto will be fine," Gaara assured her.

"But, you said that he was just a genin!"

"Yeah, but he's seen more battle than you have in your present state. Besides. That's the Hokage's call to protect Naruto, not mine. Plus, the Kyuubi will help him."

Kiele tilted her head.

"The Kyuubi?"

"The Nine-Tailed Fox demon within Naruto," Gaara explained.

"Naruto-san has a demon sealed within him, too?"

"Yes."

"Oh."

Kiele paused, before questioning Gaara once again.

"So, Kazekage-sama... What does the Akatsuki want with the demons?"

Gaara shrugged.

"That's a good question. I really don't know, actually. They might want to study the demons. They might want to use thier powers to increase thier own. But I do know one thing for sure. And that is that the Akatsuki is no joke. They're dangerous. And you are not to affiliate with thier type. My orders."

Gaara pondered how to put this thoughts into words.

"Kiele. You have to understand that I'm the one who is in charge of you. The lives of all Sunagakure ninja are my responsibility, my tools, and, in your case, my property. I can do as I please with you."

He guestured to Kiele's wristband.

Prisoner of the Sand.

"You belong to me, Kiele," Gaara reminded her.

"Mine until you die. And if anything would happen to me, then you would belong to the next Kazekage- "

"Don't speak such words," Kiele repreimanded the Kazekage.

Gaara glared at her.

No one dared to oppose the Kazekage, especially not a little girl.

"Are you demanding that of me?" He snapped.

Kiele smiled sadly.

"No, Gaara-sama. I wouldn't dare to think of ever demanding anything of you. In fact, sometimes I'm even afraid to answer you. I fear that as sharp as your words are, I'll cut myself."

Her smile faded.

"I just don't want to hear of anything happening to you, Kazekage-sama. Gomen nasai. Please do not speak such words."

Gaara's glare subsided, and his face softened. His voice lowered.

"In any case, we are leaving back for Sunagakure tomorrow. Make sure you are ready to leave at eight hundred hours, Kiele."

"Hai, Kazekage-sama."

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"Kankurou. Wake up, you lazy baka."

Kankurou groaned, and rolled over onto his side, his back facing Temari. Kiele peeked at the Suna shinobi from around the blonde. She gazed from Temari, to Kankurou, and back again. Temari rolled her eyes.

"I said get up."

Temari nudged Kankurou's body with her foot. Kankurou slapped at his elder sister's foot. Temari grinned. She mocked Gaara's tone of voice.

"Either get up, or I'll burry you in foot deep sand when we get back to Sunagakure No Sato."

"Yah, I'm sure you will, Temari. Now get the hell outta my room."

"Get up, or I'll get Gaara in here after you with his sand."

"Temari, I swear, if you don't- "

"I'll take apart Karasu."

"The hell if you will!"

"The hell if I won't."

"Temari, you're asking for a serious ass-kicking!!"

Temari's smirk widened.

"You wouldn't dare to touch the liason of Suna. Even if you could. The thought would never cross your mind. Because you're too..."

Temari slapped the back of Kankurou's head mockingly.

"Weak."

"Damn it, Temari, you son of a bitch! Why don't you lick my- ?"

"Kankurou-niisan!"

Kankurou flipped in his bed at the sound of the girl's voice. He saw Kiele.

"Aww, shit... Temari, why didn't you tell me she was in here?"

"Didn't ask," Temari responded bluntly.

She guestured for Kiele to leave.

"Go ahead and get breakfast started," She suggested.

"Hai, Temari-oneesan."

When she left, he glared at his elder sister.

"What would you have done if I had woken up with morning wood, huh?"

"Well, then, I guess you'd have a lot of explaining to do."

Kankurou glared at her, then flung the blankets from his body.

"You're one demented person, Temari," He scoffed.

Kankurou reached for his trademark black jumpsuit and headpeice. Temari chuckled.

"You know, that would actually be a valuable life-lesson for her."

Kankurou fell off of his bed in pure shock. Temari howled with laughter. Kankurou sat up from the floor, glaring daggers at his elder sister.

"Yeah, and if I ever find out that she knows something like that, and knows what the hell it does, then the guy's dead meat!!"

Temari rolled her eyes.

"You know just as well as I do that she's too niave to understand something as complicated as love and... well... love making. I don't think that we'll have to worry about them for a while still to come. And Gaara doesn't exactly grasp the concept any more than Kiele does- "

"What don't I understand?" A cold voice demanded from the door way.

Temari and Kankurou turned to see thier red headed younger brother. Temari scratched the back of her head sheepishly.

"Ah, well, you see, Gaara... I-it's nothing, really..."

Gaara glared at Temari. She shuddered. She then backed away from the doorway, putting her hands up in her defense.

"Kankurou and I were just discussing that you didn't understand the concept of love."

Gaara furrowed his eyebrows, perplexed. Temari found this an opportunity to explain it to her younger brother.

"You see, you're turning fifteen soon. And you don't even understand what love really is. Well, it's a strong, undeniable feeling deep in your stomache that you get when you look at, or even think about someone you deeply care for- "

Gaara held up his hand, silencing his sister.

"I don't care what it is. I don't have time for it, anyways. It doesn't help me be Kazekage, so it doesn't matter."

Gaara turned to leave.

"But, Gaara- !"

"I don't care, Temari. Leave it be."

Temari ran a hand through her hair, not yet tied up into her trademark quad-ponytails. She turned to Kankurou, still on the floor.

"Well, I'd say that went quite well, wouldn't you?" He asked sarcastically.

He got to his feet.

"Shut up," Temari snapped.

She pushed him back down, before leaving his room.

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"What's for breakfast today, Kiele?"

Kiele turned, smiling at her older sister- figure.

"Naruto-san never got to let me try this ramen," Kiele began.

"So, I thought we'd fix ramen."

Temari shook her head.

"But Kiele, ramen isn't a breakfast food. Besides, you don't even know how to cook it."

Kiele blinked. She looked down at her boiling water.

"It's noodles and broth, isn't it?"

"Hai," Temari replied,

"But cooked the wrong way, it could be weird."

"You've tried cooking ramen before?" Kiele questioned.

"Great! Then perhaps you could help- ?"

"No, I've never tried cooking ramen before. That's why I say it could be weird."

"Don't let Temari touch anything, Kiele!" Kankurou called from behind the closed doors of his bedroom.

Temari cracked her knuckles, then excused herself from the kitchen. Kiele giggled.

"They get along so well," She mused aloud.

"Really. I was under the impression that they hated one another."

Kiele whipped around, and saw none other than the Kazekage. Kiele bit her bottom lip. She doubted that she could ever look at Gaara the same way after what he'd told her the previous night.

"D-do you want ramen, Kazekage-sama?" She asked softly.

She turned back to the stove.

"No," Gaara replied.

"Naruto made me try it the other night. It was the most repulsive thing I'd ever tasted."

"Besides cake," Kiele pointed out.

"Besides cake," Gaara quickly agreed.

"How about salted tounge?" Kiele asked.

She dispised salted tounge. It gave her an awkward feeling in her mouth, and it was so rubbery. But Gaara loved it, so she fixed it often, just in high hopes that he'd appreciate her for it.

Sure enough, when Kiele glanced over at Gaara, he licked his lips.

"Salted tounge it is."

Kiele furrowed her eyebrows, glancing back at Gaara as he seated himself at the table. He closed his eyes, his hands rested on his lap. Kiele blinked, her face blank.

"I've never seen Gaara-sama look so at peace before..."

She stared at him a while longer, oblivious to the fact that she was staring. Gaara reopened his eyes, making direct eye contact with Kiele. Kiele's face flushed.

"What?" He demanded.

"Are you going to cook, or are you just stand there and gawk at me all morning?"

Pfft. There went Gaara's peacefulness down the drain.

"H-hai, Kazekage-sama..."

Kiele disappeared into the kitchen.

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"Are you ready?"

Kiele nodded.

"I am, Kankurou-niisan."

"Well, then, c'mon. We're burning daylight here."

"Hai."

Kiele tossed what little belongings she had over her shoulder. She then ran past Kankurou, and into Gaara's room. The room was empty, with the exception of a red bag on his bed. Kiele grabbed his bag as well, which was considerably more bulky than her own, then left.

"If that's everything, then we're leaving," Gaara announced as Kiele ran out the front door.

"It is," Kiele explained.

The four sand shinobi reached the borders of Konoha, when Kiele turned back around, gazing past the gates. The sand siblings froze.

"Something wrong?" Temari inquired.

Kiele shook her head.

"No, but..."

"You forget something?" Kankurou questioned.

Kiele shook her head again.

"I hate to leave such a beautiful village... there is so much I still haven't seen..."

She paused.

"And, I wanted to say goodbye to Naruto-san, Lee-san, and Neji-san..."

"I'm sure that we'll be back again," Gaara responded.

"As allies, we have to keep in contact with one another periodically. Temari, as Sunagakure's liason, will make visits here every once in a while. Perhaps she will take you with her."

Gaara glanced at Temari. She nodded.

"Sure thing."

Kiele smiled.

"Thank you. But, I still wanted to say good-bye- "

"The three of them left, along with Nara Shikamaru, Inuzuka Kiba, and Akimichi Chouji. It would seem that they have given chase after Uchiha Sasuke, who has left Konohagakure for Orochimaru," Gaara explained.

Kiele tilted her head, as she often did.

"Orochimaru?"

Gaara nodded.

"He is the Kage of Otogakure. Very dangerous. It would seem that Orochimaru posseses what Sasuke seeks."

"Dangerous?" Kiele repeated.

"Can't we help them? I don't want Lee, Neji, Naruto, or any of the other Leaf ninja to get hurt!"

Gaara shook his head.

"There is Shikamaru with them, a Chuunin. He nearly defeated Temari in the Chuunin Exams. Plus, he's with many of Konoha's most talented ninja. They will be fine."

"But, what about Akatsuki?" Kiele asked.

"If Otogakure is evil, and so is Akatsuki, couldn't they form an alliance, and kill Naruto-san?"

Kiele almost went into shock just thinking about Naruto being killed. Kankurou shook his head.

"I think you're overreacting."

Kiele shook her head furiously.

"Well, I don't think so! And if Orochimaru is so dangerous, and if he really wats Sasuke, then couldn't he send ninja to stall Shikamaru and the others?"

"Kiele, you're- "

"Please, Gaara-sama! At least check on them!"

Gaara shook his head.

"Please! Isn't it our duty as allies of the Leaf village to help them?"

Gaara sighed.

"The exceptions I make for this girl..."

"Fine. We'll check on them. But-"

"Thank you, Gaara-sama!" Kiele cheered.

Gaara sighed heavily.

"Let's go."

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The sand four searched the the trees of Konoha with no results.

"I don't even sense thier chakra anywhere around here," Kankurou commented.

"They could be far away from here by now- "

Gaara halted on his branch. He held out his arm in front of his siblings. Kiele clung to his other arm.

"It's Kiba," Kankurou decided.

"And a Sound piece of trash."

Ha glanced over at Kiele, alomost disbelievingly.

"You were right, kiddo. Orochimaru did send Sound filth after the Konoha ninja."

Gaara glanced back at Kiele. Once glance at her pleading face and his made was made up.

"We won't be heading straight home for Suangakure today. First, we aid the Leaves."

Kiele smiled in satisfaction.

"Kankurou. You go to Kiba."

"Hai," Was all Kankurou said, and he was gone.

"Temari, Shikamaru is over there. He is also fighting the Sound ninja. You aid him."

"Hai."

She was gone just as fast Kankurou had.

Gaara stared straight ahead.

"Lee is up ahead," He told Kiele.

She nodded.

"You'll be with me then."

He looked back at her, his complextion more sober than usual.

"You stay back out of the fight. I will fight the Sound."

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And that is the end of chapter eight. Remember to review!