Chapter 9 - Home

Sayomi shrugged on a leather jacket. She'd long since gotten rid of her usual 'uniform' so she had to work with what she'd got. So now she was wearing tight black shorts with a (short) black skirt over the top which had a slit down each side, knee-high black boots, a tight white vest top with black net covering her left shoulder and right forearm, black fingerless gloves, black leather jacket and her red scarf (of course she'd kept it). She held her headband in her hands, staring at the familiar symbol, then tied it round her waist. Of course she had a new weapon now as well, which wasn't hard to make, considering her metal bending, it was a chain-scythe, small enough to hang from a belt hook on her skirt, by her hip.

The wind coming in through the open window, whipped her long hair out of place, she'd left it down, the end now reaching her waist. The face looking back at her in the mirror was almost unfamiliar, the silvery iron eyes that she'd left behind and the heartless look within them. She stood by the window, ready to leave. Not yet though, she had to do something.

Silently she slid her door open and stepped across the hall, sliding Gaara's bedroom door just as quietly. He was lay on his bed, sound asleep by the looks of it. Careful not to wake him she knelt down by his head and, praying he was actually asleep, she leaned forward and kissed his lips softly. Not wanting to waste anymore time she got up and headed towards the door, but Gaara grabbed her wrist.

She looked round, Gaara was sat up, wide awake and shirtless. Neither of them said anything. Acting on another impulse he pulled her towards him, holding her tight.

Gaara didn't know why he'd reached out, or pulled her close, he should of stayed quiet, carried on pretending to sleep while she... No, he couldn't bare it, it hurt to see her leave.

"Don't leave me..." he whispered, the sickening pain in his chest growing

"I've got to go..." she whispered back, although she didn't move.

"Please..."

"I'm sorry." she said, reaching her hands up to place her fingertips on his temples and looking him directly in the eye. Slowly, his eyelids drooped and he fell unconscious "I'm so sorry" she whispered again, blinking back tears.

***

Kakashi looked back at team kurenai, effortlessly keeping up with him. He had no doubt that they could go allot faster than this. Over their few months training with Sayomi, she'd had to show them how to keep up with her own incredible speed, that Kakashi himself could just about match. He had to admit, Sayomi had hidden herself well, he'd barely recognised her at first, it was her voice that gave her away. She'd changed it so it was slightly girly and softer, like it was when she was only little, before the academy.

"We're here." he said, stopping at a border of trees that surrounded a small village.

Kiba sniffed the air "I can't smell her though"

"I wouldn't expect you to. She's disguised herself quite well" answered Kakashi,

It was about midday so she should be in the same shop, their best option was to go there first.

***

"What do you mean she left?"

Mrs Wantanabe sighed "Last night, without a word, not even a note."

Kiba was determined "Do you know where she might of gone?"

The old woman looked thoughtful "You'd have to ask Gaara, he was the last person to speak to her before she left. I'll just go and get him for you, but could you speak to him outside, you're startling our customers."

***

Gaara eyed up the four hidden leaf ninja suspiciously, what did they want with Sayomi? If they were after her did that mean she was in danger?

"Do you have any idea where she might of gone?" asked the guy wearing two jackets in the middle of summer

There was no way he'd betray Sayomi to anyone "Yes, she went north-west." he lied bluntly, knowing full well that she'd probably gone south

"Could you be a bit more specific?" asked Kakashi, getting annoyed

"No" he replied bluntly

*

The four ninja didn't leave until nightfall, then Gaara made his move. He dug his old 'uniform' out from the bottom of his wardrobe and got ready to leave. First he made his way into the forest, to fetch his gourd that he'd hidden inside a hollowed out tree. It felt better knowing that he wouldn't have to go without protection from the sand anymore.

*

Kakashi and team Kurenai made camp in the forest surrounding the village. Kiba was getting agitated.

"Why are we just sat here? We should be going after her! That guy said north-west right? Lets go then!" he said, jumping up

"No," said Shino "He was lying. He knows where she's gone, or has some idea, but he was protecting Captain Sakamoto for some reason"

"Well, she's been here a year" said Hinata "They could be, well, you know... together."

Everyone froze.

"I didn't even consider that she could of made a life here, that old lady was probably lying to, saying that she didn't have a clue where she would of gone." sighed Kakashi, then he stiffened and gripped a kunai in his hand

"You're getting old Kakashi, if it took you that long to realise I was here." said a familiar voice

Kakashi swung round and threw the kunai. Sayomi caught the tip of the blade between her two fingers, without even flinching. The usual 'mess with me and you die' look was in her eyes along with her relaxed posture leaning against a tree. Kiba was speechless.

**

Gaara was making his way back through the forest southwards, obviously. When he came across the same four ninja. So he jumped up into the tree and listened in on their conversation.

"Well, she's been here a year" said the girl "They could be, well, you know... together."

They all froze, the one in the leather jacket now looked extremely pissed off.

"I didn't even consider that she could of made a life here, that old lady was probably lying to, saying that she didn't have a clue where she would of gone." sighed the white haired ninja, then he stiffened and gripped a kunai in his hand

Sayomi appeared by a tree, although it wasn't quite the Sayomi he knew. "You're getting old kakashi, if it took you that long to realise I was here" she said,

The white haired ninja threw the kunai and she caught it between her two fingers.

He wanted to jump in as the fighting started, but it looked as if this Sayomi could protect herself. What had happened to the kind, gentle hearted, 'wouldn't hurt a fly' Sayomi he knew?

***

There it was. He'd left it wide open. Just one hit, but she couldn't. Instead she jumped back, only slightly breathless, whereas Kakashi was almost gasping for breath.

"You really are getting old." she said, then in one swift movement she drew her chain-scythe, swung it and threw it at the chakra signal she could sense in the tree behind Hinata.

Damn this chapter's long. I suppose I could of cut it into two, but that takes too long.