"Is she awake?"
"No, let her sleep. It was difficult enough to get over the cliffs by ourselves."
"How long did it take you to cross them, my lord?"
"Only a few days."
Aya's eyes slowly opened, her body curled in the blanket under the tent. There were voices outside, talking about her, and one of them was 'my lord'. What was going on?
Aya quickly dressed and flung open the tent flap. Gaara and Yuuki turned and gasped as she came, completely awake, out of the tent. Today, Aya had a surprise- she, too, was wearing a full suit of Atlantean battle armor.
"What…where'd you…" Gaara spluttered. Aya brushed past him calmly.
"I can't reveal ALL my secrets, my lord," she said quietly. Gaara flinched as he caught the double meaning, but Aya went serenely on, stopping before Megumi and Lee.
"Where were you?"
Lee bowed. "After the storm in which you were lost, Commander Aya, we thought it best to press on. We crossed the cliffs yesterday and headed for this oasis. Lord Gaara will testify that we arrived last night."
Aya's eyebrow flickered, but she said nothing. Gaara came up to stand behind her, but she moved away.
"I'm going to get something to eat. You brought food, right?"
Lee pointed at a pack.
"It's all in there, Commander."
Gaara followed her over to the food. Aya did not hand him one, she made no sign that she acknowledged his presence. It felt strange, seeing her wearing that armor with the flowing black cloak over it. She still wouldn't acknowledge his presence. Gaara reached out a hand to lay it on her shoulder.
"Aya…"
Aya spun around, knocking his hand away. Her cold black eyes fixed him.
"We must forget, Gaara. We MUST forget. YOU must forget. We are prince and loyal bodyguard, nothing more."
Gaara frowned. Why was she so concerned about making sure that he forgot? This was definitely not the Aya who had begged him not to stop kissing her last night.
"Aya, what…"
"It is a weakness that an enemy can exploit," Aya said firmly. "What about Sasuke? Do you want him wedging that chokoto of his into the crack that we've made?"
Gaara's eyes flared. The Uchiha again…
Aya looked at him sadly. She had reawoken that hatred of the Uchiha, but there was nothing to be done.
"I thought not," she murmured, turning to leave.
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Neji was sitting in his tent, his eyes redrimmed and crusted. He had not slept for several days, keeping his body moving, searching for his commander and prince. He went to the transmissions tent, hoping that maybe, this time, the message would come.
The man on duty picked up a signal. Neji leapt behind him.
"Pick it up!"
The man obeyed. "Sir, it's a signal from the northern strike force."
"Well? What do they say?" Neji demanded.
The man read the signal, and grinned.
"Sir, they've found the Commander and the Prince!"
The whole camp burst into cheers. Neji laughed for the first time in days. They were alive and whole, and that was all that mattered. The principal was safe again.
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"C-c-ommander?"
"Yes, what is it, Hinata?" Aya was examining a map of Suna. Hinata shuffled in the tent flap, a little nervous.
"Um, I…just wanted…um, to say…I'm sorry…about the storm…"
Aya sighed and turned to Hinata. "That wasn't your fault, Hinata-san, it was nobody's fault. Don't feel bad about it."
Hinata turned to leave, relief stamped all over her features.
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The Chosen Ten began their journey deeper into Suna, looking for a village in which to begin to spread their news. They did better than that- they found a city.
Gorokyoun City was heavily populated, but not very active. The businesses were subdued, the people quiet. As the Chosen Ten entered, they felt the overwhelming silence that surrounded the city. Gaara almost shivered. Was this what he was ruling over?
Aya took charge and strode to the nearest bar. The few passersby watched in interest as she broke down the door with one smash of her boot. Inside the gloomy, run-down building sat a number of men of varying ages. They stared at her through dulled eyes.
Gaara gasped as Aya pushed him forward into the dim bar.
"Well?" she hissed. "They're yours!"
Gaara looked uneasily about. These men looked dangerous.
Then Aya climbed up onto a wooden box. Her voice carried in the dim room.
"People of Suna! Behold, your prince! Lord Gaara has returned!"
There was a murmur that shot around the room. One old man leaned across the bar.
"Prince Gaara? I remember you. They sent you away when you was a baby." He opened the bar and came from behind the counter, wringing his hands in his filthy apron.
"Welcome home, sir, welcome home."
Aya's eyes flashed as she remained atop the box. "He needs an army to end the reign of Sasori the usurper. Who's for us, Suna?"
There was a louder mutter, but no one stood up. Then one young man came forward, his blond hair bleached white by the Sunese sun.
"I'll fight to free our land. I hate Sasori and the cruel things he's done to our land. He assassinated our old king!"
There was a roar of consent. Aya nodded.
"Then are you with us?"
The blond-haired man turned to her. "I'll go. I'd do anything to end the assassin's reign."
Slowly, bit by bit, the entire city awakened from that bar. The Chosen Ten swept the streets, spreading the message of Gaara's return. More and more people followed him, crowding into the main square to take a look at the prince who had disappeared for so long.
"Prince Gaara is marching to Suna!" Aya cried over the roars of the people of the city. "He will take back the throne and open the treasure! He is the rightful prince: he bears the key to Suna's treasure!"
Gaara held the hourglass aloft. The people cheered.
Less than a day later, the Chosen Ten had the best men of seven villages and towns in their wake, following their new leader. Everywhere they went, Aya held Gaara up as the savior of Suna, and everyone agreed. Death was better than continuing to serve Sasori. Setsuki was gaining ground, and, for the first time in years, their dream looked within reach.
