Chapter ten - Endgame

I had to stop, just for a second. Sweat trickled down my neck and I wiped it roughly with my sleeve. The smell was highly unpleasant I couldn't remember ever feeling as grotty and exhausted as of this very moment. There was still a little way to go before reaching my destination. If Matron Shun couldn't stop Kabuto it was a fair bet he'd be on my tail again.

With a deep sigh I regained my grip on the trolley and leaned forwards gaining momentum. Some children pointed and laughed as I pressed on, completely unaware of the dangerous events unfolding around them. As I crossed from another side street back onto the main road I gained more than a few strange looks from the villagers.

"Er, good afternoon, nurse?" one of the shop keepers greeted me whilst scratching his head. I waved back forcing a sweet smile and pushed harder with greater pace. There were whispers and more pointing the nearer I got to the Hokage Residence. Trying to ignore the attention was becoming difficult.

"Do you need a hand with that?" another stall holder asked politely. He was a tailor quite tall and slim in stature holding a large mirror. He stood next to a small cart with beautiful strands of soft silks in a rainbow of colours. "Perhaps afterwards you might want to have a gander at my wares?"

"No, no! It's a new initiative for hospital staff – a training regime to improve overall fitness. The gourd? Oh, it's just the right size and weight for my muscle groups. There's really no need to worry…"

"Sweetheart, there's always a need to worry about fashion! Take a look at my mirror – it never lies!" As he thrust the looking glass towards my face it was hard to deny that I looked positively unsightly. My skin was clammy, coated in black patches and sore scratches. Hair unkempt, sticking up as through it had been dragged through a bush. My uniform was torn, creased and missing several buttons!

"I look terrible…"

"Exactly darling, let me fix you right up. Now, I think a peridot green scarf would instantly brighten up those sapphire gem eyes of yours, what do you think?"

"NO! Sorry, I didn't mean to shout." I immediately regretted raising my voice. More villagers turned around to stare. "I have to get back. You might want to pack up for the day it's not safe at the moment…I'll come back tomorrow for the scarf and maybe even a hat!"

"Oh, you are a tease little lady! I'll keep it aside just for you, okay?"

"Yes, fine, right…I have to go." words raced out my mouth in a bumbling breath as I moved away from the cart with a creeping sense of unease. Perhaps it was my imagination going too far I had been under a lot of stress recently. No, I shook my head twice it was him walking through the crowds with that same maniac smile and shining glasses. He took his time weaving in and out of the villagers but always his gaze was fixed on one thing. There wasn't a scratch on him and no sign of Matron Shun either.

"Oh, hell…"

"That a friend of yours, sweetie? He's cute!" the tailor cooed.

"He's no friend of mine and not so cute either - believe me!" I turned sharply hoisting the trolley back into position and continued running. There was one place I would be safe and if I managed to get close enough in time perhaps there was a chance a ninja squad could intervene.

"Don't forget to come back tomorrow!" the man cheered behind me. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry the stupidity of trying to finalise a sale when there was a murderer chasing me was too absurd. My heartbeat pounded and I could feel the beat of blood pumping. It throbbed in my ears increasingly steadily until I could no longer focus on any other sound. The bustle and life of the market street was drowned out. I felt so tired, running scared, trying to get away from this evil person.

It reminded me of nightmares I used to have; long, rambling dreams where I was being chased by someone or something that I couldn't fully see. It was always a threatening or sinister presence - it didn't make sense to run otherwise. There was a constant sense of exhaustion in the dreams as if all my energy had been taken away. I would stumble and run with all my might but never fast enough. There were times when I felt a force pushing against me making me run in slow motion. My pursuer caught up with me and just when I thought it would end, I would escape either by a miraculous Olympic jump or ducking into a tunnel. The pursuit was endless but I was never caught until finally I would awake the next sunny morning feeling restless and grumpy.

A shockwave howling like a gust of wind knocked me off my feet. I landed squarely on my chest, the pain was excruciating. Panic set in I couldn't actually breathe. It felt like my ribs were shrinking, crushing my lungs tighter and tighter. I couldn't speak, there was wheezing as air tried to escape, squeezing itself out my body. Blinking frantically I tried to clear the tears that disturbed my vision making the buildings and ground blur into wobbly shapes. I knew that at any moment Kabuto was probably going to slice open my throat with his knife and it would all be over. I couldn't let that happen not now, not after everything!

With small sharp breaths I snatched oxygen and began to recover, realising that I had only been winded. Where was the gourd? My body groaned it felt sluggish and weak there was no time to waste. Crawling on hands and knees I frantically searched for the missing object. It was there just a few centimetres ahead. My joints protested and lungs burned but I wrapped my arms around the gourd and propped myself against the nearest wall.

"Well, here we are again little nurse Yasu. Close to safety and yet so very far away, seems almost unfair doesn't it?" Yakushi crouched low beside me resting on his ankles. "I know what you're wondering. Matron Shun is dead, and Yasu, it is your entire fault."

"You're lying!" I choked clinging to the gourd for support.

"Oh, but she is and what's more she'll be working for me now. Have you ever heard of the Shikon No Jutsu, Yasu?" He laughed lightly. "It's a specialist jutsu I've developed with Lord Orochimaru. It allows me to use dead bodies as weapons. You can manipulate them to do pretty much anything your heart desires." He held up a black scroll bound with red ribbon. "I'm saving Matron in this scroll here for a rainy day. Perhaps I could do the same with you," he whispered thoughtfully. "Then again what possible use could I have for a nurse with zero talent and emotional problems?"

"Shut up, you evil bastard!" I instantly felt the sting of a palm striking my right cheek.

"You should show more respect to your elders," Kabuto said heatedly. "There's no need to draw this out. I'll be taking the gourd now, hand it over and I'll make this quick."

"Give me the scroll," I replied bravely blocking easy access to the gourd. Kabuto surveyed me unable to contain his amusement at such resistance. He shook his head in disbelief even laughing a little more at the fallacy of such a situation.

"Such loyalty, how touching… you used to moan about her everyday to me. Groaning on and on about how much you hated the Matron, remember? Now you want to take the scroll and what – give her an honourable burial, is that it?"

"Matron Shun was dedicated to Konoha Hospital. She always cleaned up my mess, no matter what trouble I got into. She came for me. We should honour and respect the dead not desecrate them! I can't let her body be used in such a sick and twisted way."

"I'm not interested in your petty morals. Give the gourd to me!"

"It doesn't belong to you it belongs to the village in the Sand. You have no right!"

"Then you die!" Kabuto roared with deadly finality.

I closed my eyes ready to take the hit and when none came there was even bigger shock. A hardened wall of sand seven metres high had appeared. There were cracks appearing and grains crumbled away from the barrier. I stared at the gourd in wonder when it began to shake and jump violently. There was the sound of steady footsteps crunching nearby, whirling around I was suddenly face to face with Gaara.

"You found the gourd," he stated as a matter of fact. It wasn't exactly the thank you I was looking for but considering who was behind the sand wall I wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

When Gaara had appeared there were screams and shouts from the villagers. Windows slammed shut children were scooped into the arms of concerned parents and tucked away indoors. He ignored all this and made sure the gourd was securely fastened to his back. When this task was completed he retreated away from the wall.

I found myself lifted into the air and taken along with him. He clapped both palms together followed by hand signs. Beside me a doppelganger appeared wearing the same clothes as Gaara but made entirely out of sand. It stood stationary arms folded keeping a focused look out around the area. When I tried to move, the twin engaged me, immediately a flat palm stopping inches from my nose.

"I need to get to elder Utatane and explain what the hell is going on!" My babysitter was not interested in any excuse to leave there was no choice but to sit still and watch.

Kabuto was not impressed at the intrusion spitting particles of sand from his mouth in disgust. His once smiling and cocky demeanour had transformed; it was nice to see sweat forming on his brow for a change and even a look of concern. The Sound ninja made no attempt at offence or defence only keeping a safe distance from Gaara trying to think of a plan.

"I'll be taking my leave," Yakushi bowed slightly and began to walk away.

"Sand Coffin!" Gaara thundered raising his voice. He commanded the sand from his gourd to rush towards the target. Kabuto was easily overcome now trapped in a cocoon of sand up to his neck. His head bizarrely was sticking out allowing him to breathe.

"You were the contact during the mission against Konohagakure."

Angry that he had been immobilized the medic spoke in a waspish tone, "That's correct our two villages are allies…" He seemed happy to be able to remind the other ninja of this crucial fact.

"You were prepared to kill this nurse to acquire my gourd, why?" Gaara returned betraying no emotion. He glared at his prey struggling with no hope of escape. Kabuto glanced at me nervously licking his lips.

"Lord Orochimaru has need of it. To improve the alliance between our two nations we must combine our resources and jutsu."

"He's lying!" I had to interrupt. Listening to the lies was more than I could bear. "You told me to try and imagine, all the ninja that have been defeated by the sand. Imagine that every one of those ninja held unique abilities, and that your master would be able to extract all of those abilities and become even stronger!"

The red haired boy was deep in thought pondering perhaps who he should believe. He said nothing in reply to my accusations only clenched his fist tightly. Kabuto continued to struggle in vain his cheeks becoming a brighter shade of pink. The lenses in his glasses cracked and shattered sending small shards of glass onto the floor.

"What…are you…doing?" the Sound Ninja croaked and gasped. "Trying to crush me? Lord Orochimaru will know of your deceit, you will regret this, Sand Freak."

"Trading jutsu was not part of the agreement. Tell Orochimaru that the treaty between the Sand and Sound villages no longer exists." Gaara strolled silently up to his opponent who was now shaking and gritting his teeth in desperation. "If you try to attack our village for revenge, this sand freak will kill you all." The raccoon eyes narrowed as he said this with absolute certainty. There was no doubt between the two ninja that this was not an empty promise.

Suddenly there was a flurry of activity. We were surrounded by men and women in green uniforms, all wearing headbands. Finally a Konoha Squad had managed to find us!

Gaara clapped his hands twice and the cocoon around Kabuto fell away. There was stillness in the air as I wondered what could possibly happen next. The Sound ninja grinned at the welcoming party.

"Looks like I've outstayed my welcome," he declared.

"GET HIM!"

It was too late he disappeared in a cloud of smoke. One ninja barked orders to the others to search the perimeter then they too were gone. The nightmare had come to an end and I closed my eyes relief washing over me. The sand clone disintegrated returning to the gourd. I remembered the cork in my breast pocket and went to return it to Gaara.

"I managed to spill your sand everywhere, sorry about that." I felt extremely awkward. "This belongs to you as well. I couldn't put it back in, there must be a certain way it goes I guess…here."

Gaara nodded and took the cork, "I followed the sand trail to the gourd's location." He didn't seem angry, only explaining how he'd managed to track us down. No, I reminded myself track the gourd down. His turquoise eyes seemed softer than before. I noticed up close how the pangs of his red hair spilt apart more on the left side of his forehead. There was a red tattoo etched there with a symbol that I couldn't recognise. Noticing the focus of my gaze he coughed suddenly.

"You lost this," he turned away embarrassed but insistently held out a scroll towards me. It was the black scroll.

"That's the second time today…" I laughed feebly. Feeling overwhelmed I bit my lip and sniffed furiously. "You got her back. Thank you so much, Gaara." His pale cheeks blossomed for a moment with dusty pink.

"I'll be leaving for Sunagakure at dawn," he said brusquely. "We're even."

"I understand," the barriers were back in place. Gaara glared at me once more crossing his arms defensively over his chest. "Take care with that arm," I offered. "It still needs to be cleansed twice a day."

"Persistent as always," he muttered walking away from me with long strides.

I looked down at the scroll clutched in my hand. Things were never going to be quite the same ever again.