Thank you all so much for reading my work! I hope that you will continue to enjoy it!
Gaara watched as the sun dipped into the horizon. His fists clenched as he returned to their room and looked at the empty bed in silence. One day of the agreed five was down and it was getting closer to the day when they would find out if Harry truly didn't need Gaara's constant protection. He knelt onto the bed that Harry slept in and gathered the sheets to him. Closing his eyes he buried his face in the heady scent of Harry, and prayed that his love would be safe.
Harry didn't sleep that night, Itachi had left shortly after their strange conversation, and the things he said had kept Harry on edge. After Itachi left Harry had found a new spot to hide, this one was a bit closer to the camp so that he could watch them.
Itachi sometimes wondered at Kisame's senses, he had known the moment that the consort had changed his position, knew where he was, and could feel those green eyes watching his every move. Kisame gave no sign of even being aware that they were still being followed which had reminded Itachi that Kisame was more of a warrior then a Nin.
Harry ghosted after them, waiting for a good chance to attack. It was difficult since he assumed that they knew he was following them. His sharp green eyes kept on the lookout for a good spot to strike from. He ran through strategies in his mind as he watched them, searching for even the slightest hint of weakness.
Itachi smirked, the consort knew that he knew that they were being followed, and still he was determined to continue with his plan. Itachi snorted, getting a curious look from Kisame which he didn't respond to. He wondered to himself why the consort was so determined to follow through on this mission, there had to be a reason why the consort would follow after two enemies alone, but Itachi failed to think of a single one.
Gaara frowned, he had never had much patience, and he was finding he had even less than usual when it came to his precious love. He smirked, Harry had said that no one could help him on this mission, and they had agreed that if Gaara had to rescue Harry then Gaara 'won' the right to be over protective of Harry and shelter him, but they had failed to mention or discuss other possibilities.
Gaara closed his eyes as he gathered sand into his palm and created his third eye. He gave it plenty of chakra and sent it to find Harry. He might not be able to help his beloved, but that didn't mean he couldn't watch over him.
Harry smirked when he saw Kisame's feet deftly avoid an unexpected root, and while the fish man hadn't tripped his balance was tenuous for one tenth of a second. Harry took this second to strike and launched a kunai at the back of Kisame's legs. He hit Kisame directly on his Achilles' heel making his larger opponent go crashing to the ground.
Itachi's eyes widened when Kisame fell, he was impressed with how closely the consort had been watching him. He turned drawing his own kunai as he temporarily guarded both himself and his teammate while he waited for Kisame to recover and stand up. He smirked when Harry came out of the foliage and into the open. Though he wasn't fooled for a moment, this couldn't be the real Consort, he supposed that Harry was using a substitution jutsu which was clever, but was too obvious for an experienced Akatsuki like himself.
Harry drew his own kunai and launched in the air, he would take each down while he could, the blue one known as Kisame hadn't gotten up yet so Harry took the chance to launch several kunai and a hidden senbon at the form. As expected Itachi intercepted each of the Kunai from hitting his partner but missed the senbon which hit Kisame directly in the neck, permanently damaging his nerves in his spinal cord. Harry smirked proudly as Kisame let out a pain filled groan, one enemy was down.
Gaara's third eye had found them and was watching the fight very closely; he felt the warmth of pride fill him when he saw that Harry had anticipated his enemy's movements and had out maneuvered them. He smirked, Kisame was down, he was not dead, but he would not be fighting for awhile. He turned his attention to Itachi. His fists clenched, Kisame had been one thing, but Itachi was something completely different.
Harry stood still as he watched Itachi, his stance was ready for anything that Itachi might do, and he knew very well how Itachi favored substitution Justus and could only hope that his plan would work. He tensed when Itachi's stance changed but the dark haired Nin before him only laughed softly.
"Very clever young consort…you've managed to take down my teammate despite my attempts to defend for him." Itachi's eyes were filled with approval. This little consort was very interesting, and every new thing that was revealed only drew Itachi in more. He smirked as he bent his knees "But not clever enough, I know that this isn't the real you, your chakra is much too low, the real you is right…here!"
Itachi leapt and spun launching his kunai into Harry who was hidden in the bushes behind him. There was a moment where Itachi realized he had made a vital mistake. The Harry whose side his kunai was currently imbedded into was smiling at him, and then changed into a tree stump. Itachi was confused for a second before he had realized what happened and murmured "Very clever indeed."
Harry didn't let this chance pass him by as he readied his kunai and began to attack at Itachi's back. Personally he thought that attacking at an opponent's back was cowardly. However, when the opponent one was fighting had the strength that Itachi had, then it was time to reconsider.
Gaara watched, surprised to find that he was a little turned on from seeing Harry fight. He moaned as he caressed the growing bulge in his pants and closed his eyes for a second as the friction gave him a rush of pleasure. He reopened his eyes and hoped that Harry would make it back on time, because Gaara was sure he would explode if he didn't.
Itachi winced as the barrage of kunai dug into his back but then turned around and launched his counter attack. The consort was very clever indeed, he had realized that Itachi would assume that the one before him was a clone, to further along this belief Harry had poured most of his chakra into his clone so that their energy levels would make it appear as if Harry was really behind him. Itachi smiled, this would be a fight to enjoy.
Harry was unsurprised when his kunai were not enough to take down Itachi. He continued to draw his weapons, he thought about using the plants around them, but doubted that he could maintain manipulating them and defending himself from Itachi's attacks without more distance between them. Something he was worried about giving to Itachi in case he thought it was easier to just disappear rather than fight.
Itachi watched the blank expression on Harry's face closely. It seemed that the young consort was not surprised that he was still ready to fight after the kunai he was thinking ahead. Itachi smirked as he drew his needles; he wasn't going to let the consort have too much time to think and launched an attack.
Gaara saw the senbon and gripped the sheets, his eyes narrowed as he regretted not giving Harry more training. He was realizing that Harry had been training himself all this time, something that both impressed and worried Gaara. It showed that his consort wasn't willing to just wait around to be directed by Gaara, but it also showed that he did not know everything about Harry and that concerned him deeply.
Itachi was enjoying the fight quite a lot; he had also noticed that they were not alone. He had spotted Gaara's third eye when he turned around after the kunai barrage and he was impressed with the Kazekage, it seemed that Gaara cared more about his consort then the current situation let on. Itachi was sad to know that the fight would soon be ending. He had meant it before when he had said that it would be a shame if he had to injure Harry. So when he had injected the unsuspecting boy with his needle last night, it had taken away the old poisons, but something new was added to Harry's system.
Gaara felt himself tense when he saw Itachi look directly at him and wink. At that very second Harry froze and fell limply towards the ground. Itachi caught him easily and picked the young boy up before going up to the eye. "Such a pretty little thing, I hope you don't mind if I borrow him."
Gaara couldn't hear, but he read Itachi's lips and clenched his fists so tight that he had almost cut into his own skin despite his protective sand. He growled and it seemed that even if Itachi couldn't hear him he was guessing at the Kazekage's reaction. "Really, my client will be so pleased that we got Harry earlier than expected." Itachi turned and walked away from the eye, taking Harry with him.
Gaara was trapped, he had clearly seen Harry be defeated and carried off by the enemy. However he had promised Harry that he would wait five days until he went after Harry, if he had not been watching he would have assumed that Harry was still completing the mission. Thus if he went after Harry now then the consort would know that Gaara had been watching him and would see it as Gaara being distrustful. Gaara clenched his fists in his hair, but he could not be expected to sit here and wait for the next four or three and a half days to pass before going out to rescue Harry.
Harry woke from the darkness that had overcome him slowly, his eyes opened and he was surprised to find that it was dark out and that he was being carried by Itachi. He growled and tried to get himself out of Itachi's hold "Let go of me!" He shouted, trying to figure out how this had happened.
Itachi smirked and shook his head "I'm afraid that I can't do that, see you're very important right now, one of our client's asked us to bring you to him, and Gaara will no doubt be coming after you, giving us a chance to take the demon chakra from him."
Harry snorted "Gaara won't be coming for several days." He didn't know how to respond to what else Itachi had said. He decided that he could always go over that information later and kept it in the back of his mind as he tried to figure a way out of this mess. He was surprised from his thoughts when Itachi laughed lightly.
"Actually I wouldn't be surprised if Gaara came after you the second you fell into my arms. His third eye was watching the fight, and seeing how precious you are to him I doubt that any little deal you had with him will be shoved aside to get you back safely." Itachi smiled down at Harry "Though I have no intention of giving you to anyone."
Harry was furious when he heard that Gaara had been secretly watching the fight, though he couldn't say he was surprised. In their deal they had said nothing about Gaara watching as long as he didn't interfere.
Harry clenched his fists; to prove to Gaara that he was capable he would just have to escape before Gaara could reach him. Then somehow finish off Itachi or at least wound him greatly before he left.
After that he could return to the sand village with Gaara and be able to stand at the Kazekage's side like an equal. Though Gaara wouldn't be able to stand properly for a while after Harry was through beating him for not following the agreed plan.
Gaara had weighed his options carefully. He knew that Harry was capable, and that they had made this deal a test of honor and trust. As much as he hated it, as much as it pained him, he would wait the agreed time before going after Harry. If he went out and got Harry now then he would be lost to Gaara forever because of this. Gaara looked out at the crescent moon and whispered to Harry in the darkness "Don't let me down."
Thank you so much for reading! I'm sorry that this story had to wait so long to be updated! I actually had most of this chapter written several weeks ago but then I didn't post it and later just assumed I did! I won't make such mistakes in the future and hope you can forgive me!
