Broken Doll

Kagome didn't see InuYasha for several days after that and had yet to try the well. She sat reading another book in the shade of the same tree as before feeling the light breeze helping her to keep cool in the dry heat of the day. She has been in the village now for eighteen days and made good use of her time getting to know what things are like here while ignoring the uncomfortable feelings she got from some of the different ones. Members on the council recognized her, coming to find she has returned yet again but this time she is of no use to them but what no one knew is that they still had a spy in their midst.

Kagome grew to realize that she isn't well liked by some of the girls here, it was apparent that Gaara is someone who now gets a lot of attention from the opposite sex whether he realizes it or not. For once though she didn't feel a cause for concern as he had never taken interest in them before she came back and hasn't since then, his eyes has only been for her. Turning the page she read on having a quiet day with plenty of time to read and nothing more to do than that for now as he insisted that she take her time. Hearing a rustle of leaves she looked up seeing him recline out on a low branch above her as he is now on his break period. With a smile up at him she read for a few minutes more as he relaxed but soon found the sand putting her bookmark in place and setting the book down before wrapping around her, bringing her to sit on his lap. Having already expected him to do this she merely smiled and relaxed into him letting her eyes shut as he wrapped his arms around her.

"Let's rest our eyes for a little while, my head hurts today," he commented towards her, his eyes already shut as he reclined against the bark of the tree.

Perking up a little she said, "Let me try something," she called on her powers wanting to give this a shot. With gentle hands she placed them on his head and pushed her powers into him before pulling back. "Did it go away," she asked, unsure if her powers would work as such.

"It is…" he opened his eyes a little speechless.

Flashing him a smile she rested against him again, his eyes looking down at her as he opened his mouth in slight aww of her ability to focus her power differently as he knows that she is not a trained priestess, most of her control gained through battle rather than having a steady mentor. "Now you can enjoy yourself," she mumbled feeling content.

With a small smile he looked up through the branches watching the leaves shake in the wind as it passed by. "Thank you," he rested his eyes enjoying his moments with her.

For over two weeks they have watched her movements as they knew now how to use her in different ways, grinning at this accomplishment. Now all that is needed for them to do is take her right from under this Kazekage's nose, the perfect one for doing such a task. He best enjoy what time he will have with her because she will soon be gone once again…

Lying stretched out on the couch Kagome tried to think of what she should eat for supper, not really hungry or in the mood to fix anything today. The natural light flowing into the room was covered briefly, the couch dipping in different places as she was soon looking into aqua eyes, arms latching around their neck as their lips met moving against each other while he rested part of his weight on her. Legs gripping him any thoughts towards supper were out of mind in favor of making out in the fading light of the day. She gripped his robes as his mouth descended down across her jaw and to her neck lightly sucking on the skin as he enjoyed tasting her flesh there and making her squirm from the sensations, feeling her legs grip him with a squeeze.

"It feels so good," she breathed out as he sucked on her pulse.

The term friend no longer applied to them, what is going on between no longer fit that category, they are simply beyond friends. Although they are not far down that road of what existed beyond friendship they enjoyed traveling down it further together. Neither of them could help but keep feeding that burning fire between them as he collected small moans of hers, his mind saving them to memory.

"Kagome," he whispered against her skin as his hands gripped her hips, "you make me want to do things that are foreign to me," he confessed as he fought against some of his urges. "Should I ever give in I feel like it still won't be enough until you are branded with my love, bound to me forever." He scraped his teeth along her collar bone hearing her suck in a breath.

Supper was forgotten until later on where Gaara woke from dozing off, his head resting on her stomach hearing it rumble in protest of being neglected. Pressing a kiss to it he got up deciding to cook, not something he usually does for more than him so it always felt a bit like a test to see if he is any good. Kagome had yet to stir even though it is her stomach protesting. As he cooked his eyes would trace over her curvy form spread across the light colored couch. His siblings had somewhat cornered him, mainly his sister as she began noticing his different behavior around her and since when was he friends with the mysterious girl. All he ever feels right now is light and happy, it rippled through his day helping to take the edge of guilt for previous actions off his shoulders. Never does he ever want to lose her.

Gaara sat in his office a couple days later, the village has remained quiet which allowed him to get more work out of the way and enjoy being with Kagome when he isn't working. Although he still rests on her couch at night he has yet to see the half demon, it surprised him but the well might have stopped working for him or something. The council this time around held little interest in Kagome but they did realize his personal interest in her as the two of them were now often spotted somewhere together. He could tell that she has been happier as well, taking life one step at a time in a relaxed manner. Shippo on the other hand has been back and forth, visiting for a day at a time before heading back through the well to see Sango and Miroku. Soon he will be heading off to start being more focused on his demon powers and fox magic with all the other foxes.

After that period of days where Kagome always seemed to be in some sort of jeapordy he welcomed all of this calm, not about to waste it although he still has some of his Anbu keeping an eye on her. He doubted this quiet will last for long, it never seems to but he will take what he can get and remain prepared for whatever happens next. Scribbling on some paper he gave it his seal and set it aside as he kept his eye on the time, looking forward to his lunch hour where he can join Kagome in the shade where he knows her to be resting with a book.

"Lord Gaara," one of the Anbu assigned to Kagome appeared making him tense. "We have a new intruder…" the words out of his mouth had him running in no time.

Kagome sat in her usual spot; soon Gaara will be here to enjoy a long break with her. Humming a light tune as she looked at the pictures in her book she felt happy and excited, she brought a snack for them to enjoy together. Quietly she sang a small song…

Perhaps I can reach you, even though you're far away

I send you this message with all my heart

Hope is certainly a compass that points to love

Sleep, sleep gently, for tomorrow is a continent of dreams

Last night you were scared of loneliness

The telepathy in your heart called my name

It's not even a miracle that in the future our hearts will be energy

Sleep, sleep gently, forget your sorrow

The years sink into the sea like the setting sun

I'll jump across the starry sky to collect you

I'll jump across the starry sky to collect you

"That is an interesting song," a sand shinobi stepped out from the shadows of a tree, "what do you call it?"

"Thank you," she flushed a little unaware of having company, "it is simply called Starry Lullaby, I liked singing it as a child," she recalled the times her and Gaara would sit looking up at the starry sky while she sang it.

"I'm sure your Lord Gaara enjoyed your singing," the odd phrasing of that sentence made her cock her head at him confused while warning bells went off with the Anbu.

"I suppose he might have, I used to sing it often at night when we were children stargazing together," she hasn't had many interactions with anyone dressed as a shinobi so she felt unsure about him only referring to Gaara as her Lord. "So what brings you this way, I don't tend to see hardly anyone around this area?"

"Oh you know," his voice became distorted, "kidnapping the priestess for my master," he finished with a higher pitch male voice, his eye turning gold and skin white.

She stood alarmed at that, the book tumbling off her lap as roots suddenly grabbed her, pulling her trapped against the tree as she screamed. Three Anbu came down, one of them leaving to inform Gaara of the intruder. "Let me go!" She pushed her power into the vines but it failed to help her. "Gaara!"

"It looks like your watchdogs have joined the party," he mused in a happy voice. "I can't really stay and play longer, that sand of Gaara's is tricky to get by," he admitted and after springing forth several roots stabbing one in the thigh and forcing the other to distance himself he avoided the senbon needles they blew his way by retreating underground with Kagome in tow.

"GAARA!" She screamed as the roots began pulling her under. The Anbu member appeared next to her while half of her body was visible.

They tried pulling her out but with a quick tactic they whispered, "Swallow this, we will find you," as he popped something small into her mouth just before she was pulled all the way under.

Gaara sprinted to that small area, what was left of the oasis with the words echoing in his head, 'White Zetsu appeared under the guise of a sand shinobi to kidnap Kagome.' His heart thudded and clenched as he broke through the trees to find the book discarded haphazardly, a bento box, and Kagome gone. One Anbu being treated for wounds by the other remaining member that went into a bow the second he noticed him.

"I'm sorry Lord Gaara but I couldn't pull her free but I can track her down," he informed him well aware that his Lord knows of his tracking abilities through what he popped into her mouth.

'White Zetsu, I thought he was dead,' Gaara looked to the area that she regularly sat reading, the grass still weighed down from where she had been. "Anything else," he asked.

"He has a master but I don't know who. His master wants her and he referred to her as priestess," he reported what little had come out.

"You will be coming with me, get ready to head out," he departed with her belongings, heading off to shed his robes for his shinobi attire and prepare for the trip ahead of them. He will get her back, she will be back in his arms and the ones who took her will die, this time he will not be holding back. Heading out he sent a message to his siblings and brought the Anbu and two others with as the proceeded to leave on his sand with the Anbu guiding him to where she is.

No one spoke a word minus the Anbu for guiding purposes, they were unsure of the mood their Kazekage is in and had nothing of comfort to say. They were going in unaware of the entire or motives behind this kidnapping. With Shukaku gone they are not sure if this is a trap for their Kazekage or if she is the true target. Every so often Gaara's hands would clench a little as they used his transportation to fly across the landscape, the distance to cover already quite great, going in a north west direction so far.

"Lord Gaara I sense her power being used in great amounts along with a large amount of chakra, it might be Shukaku's," the other sensory type informed him, watching his eyes narrow in thought.

Kagome felt panicky being sucked underground, her body telling her they are moving at high speeds as she squeezed her eyes shut. That man was strange in her opinion, what could he want with her, why is only half of his body fully developed?

The peace and quiet she had finally gained in those days is gone now…

Resurfacing from the ground she began looking around and came face to face with a creature that seemed barely familiar to her. "Who are you," she quickly asked looking up at the sand colored beast with yellow eyes.

An odd laugh came from behind her from that odd white man. "Shukaku we meet again and I brought you a new friend!"

"White Zetsu, I thought you died during the war. No matter I will crush you now!"

"Nuh uh uh," he tsked at the one tail, "No crushing will be done today. It is time for her to bind you," he looked at her expectantly.

"Wait what, who said I am going to do anything for you? You just kidnapped me from Gaara!" She yelled, her stubbornness coming to the surface as she pointed an accusing finger at the male.

"I know who you are," Shukaku suddenly said his eyes on her now. "You are the one that the sand village was using those two different times, I see you are now back a third time."

"You're the one that was sealed inside him right," she looked up at him confirmation.

"Yes," he looked down at her.

She turned her eyes back to the man. "If you think I am hurting or doing anything to Shukaku you are stupid," she crossed her arms. "Gaara will come for me and you will pay," she felt absolutely certain of that.

"I will aid him with that," he covered her with sand and moved her away from the attack area as he launched a tailed beast bomb at Zetsu.

"Such hostility," he waved his arms around before merging with the ground to save himself from the attack.

The sand around Kagome fell, her eyes taking in the destruction she could feel vibrating around her that the tailed beast had caused. "Wow you're really strong," she complimented Shukaku. "Is he gone?"

"Nope I'm over here now!" White Zetsu stuck his tongue out at Shukaku.

"Ngh," the odd noise came from her throat as someone held her by the back of neck with a paper pressed into it.

"It is time for you to be of use to me," a new male said as he held her until his control over her was asserted. The pupils of her eyes faded to a charcoal grey. "Time for you to do you calling and seal this beast for me," he held his palm over her back as Shukaku looked at the newcomer aware that he had just done something to the girl.

He back up a few paces, ready to burrow into the sand and make a quick getaway with her now under control. With a burst of power he was connected to her, her power trying to force him into submission as the new male controlled what she does. He roared flaring his chakra in an attempt to thwart the attempt but the pressure increased to crushing magnitudes so with a final roar he was forced into a jewel the size of her fist.

"White Zetsu, you did well in bringing her to me, she is perfect for this," he complimented and looked her over as he had never seen her with his own eyes, only knew of her thanks to the flawless spying White Zetsu had done for him.

"She is powerful, you will have no problem in seizing all that you seek with her under your control," he watched as the paper burned his control over her ending as her pupils returned to normal.

She rubbed the back of her neck automatically, her mind telling her something had been there. "Yes but my control over her will be short lived for the time being. Do you have the next location set?"

She whipped around at the voice directly behind her. "Who are you," she questioned the new arrival trying to moved away but her wrist was caught.

"Yes I do master, shall we move there now," he waited obediently for instruction.

"Yes, we will take down the two tail beast now," he instructed.

"Let me go! I don't want to take anyone down!"

*SMACK*

"You belong to me now, you're my tool to use for the goals I have," he tried to assert himself but she only looked at him with defiant eyes.

"I belong to me and me alone!" She claimed, not about to let some guy push her around. Doing a quick spin she forced his hand to let go of her as she made a run for it. A few steps later she met the ground hard as roots shot out and grabbed her.

"Time for you to come with me," White Zetsu said in a teasing voice before pulling her under the ground.

"Shukaku's chakra is gone and someone new had appeared. They have now changed directions and are rapidly head off somewhere," the Anbu said to him watching Gaara clench his fist as they were too late to be of any help.