eleven. Discovery.
Gaara at last regained control of his body.
It was an annoying process, but a quick one; he finally crawled out of the dark space he'd thrown himself in and demanded to take over. When denied, he threw a fit- starting to destroy his body from the inside out until shukaku obliged. On a single condition.
He couldn't talk to Akashi. Still regretful of the conversation he'd had with the demon, this wasn't much a problem. He'd find a way around it anyhow.
He had to get her out of Suna, he had to. If not for her own good, for his.
He sat then in his room, slumped against the side of his bed with his legs nearly touching his chest. His arms lay lifelessly beside himself until he managed to use one and push off the ground. Despite his reluctancy, he had to visit Baki-sensei. He had to get a collection of papers for his father, who, in his office safe within the Council building, couldn't find the time to retrieve them himself. Unaware of Shukaku's current reign, the Kazekage had ordered Gaara the previous night to fetch them and bring them before evening struck the next day. So while in Baki's office, he'd use his third eye power to check around for any sign of betrayal towards the girl.
For example, that brillant blue Konoha headband.
Gaara slid through the hallways and into the Council building. He headed towards Baki's office and was nearly opening the door when he stopped. Someone was already there.
"Assign me a mission." The voice was, without a doubt, Akashi's- despite the defiancy he recognised it easily.
Gaara frowned deeply, pressing close to the door to hear more.
"...feel you're ready?"
"...choice..."
...training building... with what you'll need..."
He strained to hear more, but Baki's voice was too low and such a task was impossible. Seconds away from opening the door, it opened for him, and he shot out of the way. Though he felt like he'd been seen, no one bothered him in his spot behind the thick doorway. Footsteps carried without voices farther and farther away, and when he'd caught his breath, Gaara carefully crept into the office. His third eye followed behind secretively.
"Gaara. You've come for your father's papers?"
Gaara ignored the question and walked straight up to the desk, until he could go no further. Anger fell from his lips in fiery ringlets as he spoke. "What are you assigning Kinosa?"
The man in front of him lost his surprised expression and fell into a grim one. His eyes became furious slits and the cloth hiding his face swung out quickly as he spat at the boy. "You can't stop this, Gaara, and I do suggest you cease your attempts at doing so."
"I disagree."
The tension swelled.
"Her powers are important to this village, Gaara, more important than your rather odd obsession with her."
"You will release her immediately. And cancel this mission."
"We have to possess her, and by assigning her a simple mission every now and then, she'll grow to trust us."
"She hasn't even awakened."
They both fell silent, and Baki looked around. A small puddle of sand rested upon a thin stack of paper on his desk; the remains of Gaara's third eye. He glared at the boy. "How long has that been here?"
"Every second I have."
"No more? My, Gaara, you've really gone far."
The redhead dismissed the comment and continued to stare angrily at his sensei. The papers consisted of the entire plan concerning Akashi, and he was overwhelmed with disgust at the fact that his father had sent him to retrieve such a thing. Such a plot. Against her.. his best friend.
Well, his only friend, but that wasn't the point. Not right then.
"We have our ways of awakening her, Gaara, you'll have to trust in us as far as that goes. Now, however, I'm afraid you'll have to leave."
Baki turned away. Gaara lingered for a moment, then swung around and slammed the door behind him on the way out. The pile of sand that had been left behind flew into Baki's eyes with the force of the door.
"God damn that kid," he muttered, wiping sand from his face, and then went back to work.