GARAA'S REPENTANCE

CHAPTER TEN

Love Is Fickle

Garaa's assassin stood before him, katana pointed straight at his chest, hawk-eyes gleaming in the moonlight. She was wearing exactly what she had been wearing the night she had tried to kill Garaa, and was smiling slightly.

Behind them all, a grey horse joined Sore's horse. It nudged the paint horse's neck, and the black paint came off on her nose.

Garaa cursed under his breath. Of course! Sore had been the one to warn the Sound Ninja of the guards coming! This was her foster sister…and the real sister of…???

Garaa glared at her. "Who are you?" He softly said. His sand raised up threateningly behind him, as if to prove a point.

"Ha! You finally asked!" The Sound Ninja snapped. She tossed her dark brown hair over her shoulder, and replied: "My name is Kinuta Ai!"

Garaa's eyes opened wide. "Kinuta? As in…Kinuta Dosu?"

"That's right!" Ai's voice was sharp. "My brother whom, if you'll remember, was mercilessly ripped apart by you! The fate that I will now invoke upon you!"

Garaa couldn't believe it. These two girls had been family/friends of Kinuta Dosu…whom he had in fact killed during the Chunnin Exams!

And now…

They wanted revenge…

Somewhere…

Emma's suddenly body suddenly jerked violantly, just as the camera flashed a picture.

The photographer cursed.

"Emi-Chan, what's wrong?" Kankurou asked her.

"What's wrong? What's wrong?" Jaws the parrot mimiced.

Kankurou gave the bird a Look, but it didn't care.

Emma, wearing a pretty purple kimino, shuddered. "The picture…that picture…I…I need to…I need to see…Neji…"

Kankurou had learnt not to question his girlfriend's motives, even if Neji had tried to steal Emma away from him.

"Time to put that bird to good use." He muttered.

"Uh oh…" Jaws squawked.

Sore walked forward, regret in her eyes. "You shouldn't have killed him, Garaa-Dono. Didn't you know…???"

"That we would come and find you…" Ai's smile grew even larger.

"Eventually?" The girls finished together.

"You killed my only brother, and my training partner!" Ai cried.

"You slaughtered my only love – my soul mate!" Sore added.

"For Dosu-Kun!" Both girls cried, and pointed their swords at Garaa. "We will now kill you!"

And they lunged at him.

"STOP!" A voice screamed from somewhere in the bushes.

Ai and Sore gasped and landed about a foot away from Garaa, as three ninjas tumbled out of the bushes.

It was Temari, Shikamaru and Naruto!

"Garaa-Dono, are you okay?" Naruto asked him.

Garaa nodded, slightly, and turned back to the two girls before him.

"Who are you, and why were you attacking my brother?" Temari asked them.

Ai and Sore exchanged a glance.

Naruto stared at Ai. "You look like somebody I used to know…" He muttered.

"Good guess, blondie!" Ai snapped. "Tanuki-Eyes here killed my only brother, Kinuta Dosu! And I'm his sister, Ai!" She glared at Naruto. "Maybe I should call you whiskers instead!"

Naruto's hand crept towards his stomach, and recognition dawned over Sore's face.

She stepped forward and, very clearly he said: "Kyuubi."

Naruto immediately moved back (like how all Anime characters do) and said: "Yeah…how'd you know? And who are you?"

"One question will be answered." Sore said, sounding wise. She suddenly realised that everybody was staring at her, and she blushed. "I…I am Kaguya S…Sore." She gave Ai a Look that plainly said – LET'S LEAVE!

Ai nodded, and the two girls stepped backwards.

"Wait…" Shikamaru started, but both girls literally bolted. They had mounted their horses and galloped away before you could say 'Bob's Your Uncle'!

Sore turned around again, and stared at Garaa before disappearing into the trees.

Her eyes clearly read – mourning.

But something else was in her eyes, something Garaa realised he could put a name to, put a face to.

Gobi…

Gobi Kurasu…

A five-tailed Demon-Crow…

That old woman crow…

This young Mist Ninja…

One and the same now, or when it suited them?

Confusing thoughts bubbled up inside of Garaa's head, and he hit the ground in a dead faint.

Meg: Hiya! Long time no-see! Hope you're all well! Are you confused yet?

Garaa: If so, then good

Meg: Now, now, be nice. They're going to be even more confused when we start introducing the side-stories. Stay tuned!