Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, coz if I did him and Hinata would've been married a long time ago.

Chapter Twelve

Suna is quite and a bit on the boring side, it has been a couple of days since they'd gone back here and up until now she couldn't believe that she agreed to her sister's stipulation it was Gaara or his siblings to be her guard. She had to admit that she does need them and they are a very strong bunch of people.

She was dead bored as she waited for the Kazekage's council meeting to end. She and Gaara are supposed to go hunting for the perpetrators that stole her voice.

"Sera-sama what are you doing outside the council room?" Matsuri asked as she squatted just like her.

Sera scribbled expertly on a piece of paper and handed it to her."I'm waiting for the any of the Sand Siblings to accompany me." It was upon her sister's strictest orders that she will not leave the village without any of the most trusted Nins of Sunagakure.

"Oh, ok..." Matsuri replied as she sat down beside her.

Just then an idea struck her, she hastily wrote something on paper again. "Matsuri do you think that Gaara-san trust you?"

"What do you mean Sera-sama..?"

"You know, like he doesn't question your character and that you are you know trust worthy..." She wrote.

"Well I'd like to think so Sera-sama..." She replied.

Sera gave her a wicked smile.

Gaara just finished his council meeting with the elders when an ANBU was waiting for him. "What is it?"

"Sera-sama left a message for you..." He replied handing him a letter.

"Yo, Gaara-kun, since you're busy enough as it is, I decided to take Matsuri with me and go search for the rest of my people's sacred stones. I don't want to burden you anymore with my quest I know that sister specifically asked you to take charge in guarding me but right now I know that your people need you too. Don`t worry, I found a very reliable person to take with me and I`ll make sure that sister will still pay you for your services. Buh-bye... see yah soon!"

Gaara was angry, he was boiling inside but he didn't dare show it on his face. "You are dismissed..." He merely stated to the ANBU. Gaara simply crumpled the letter in his hand and went to look for Temari and Kankuro.

"Sera-sama, Gaara-sama will be very disappointed if he found out that you went out without him or his siblings." Matsuri said very worried.

"Come on Matsuri where is your sense of adventure!" Sari replied slapping Matsuri's back.

Sera simply smiled at the both of them, it's not that she really need companions, it's just it gets rather sad and lonely if your alone on a journey... and besides her sister will probably rush here the moment she finds that she set out alone again.

Sera held out her hand halting them as three strangers approached them.

"Hey look at what we have here..." Said the familiar face of the very person that had stolen her voice.

"Sera-sama!" Saki said grabbing Sera's arm that blocked them.

Sera's eyes darkened as energy started to whirl around her, she stretched out her aura, holding the other two back.

Sera changed stance, her face grew serious, she spread her legs apart putting all her weight on the right leg as her left was extended outwards. She closed her fist as held up her defences.

They attacked at her all at once.

"Sera-sama!" She heard Matsuri shouted, they couldn't even move from where they were.

Sera easily tossed the girl aside and blocked the others' attacks sending one flying through the air. She successfully did offense as she blocked the attacks when the other kicked her squarely on the chest sending her a few feet back the other two attacked her instantly, but she recovered just as fast, she stood up at once throwing the girl over her head, and she did the same with the other man, when she saw the other attacker coming in for her she changed stance and did a roundhouse kick successfully, the girl attacked her once again, they were exchanging blows and kicks very fast but she blocked everything and landing a few solid hits as well.

Her energy was draining quickly, she was just lucky that the girl that stole her voice doesn't know how to use it or else she's dead. She blocked her opponent's strikes successfully but she doesn't know how long will this last, she simply can't drag Matsuri and Saki with her fight, just protecting them or rather constricting them to move is taking a lot from her, added to that that these three people are strong opponents and she is not in her top shape.

She was blocking the attacks quite successfully when she noticed the change in wind from behind her, from the corner of her eye she noticed that the man was going to attack her. She ducked it just in time before it hit her, he tried to attack her again as soon as he landed but she successfully kicked him on his center sending him back.

The other attacked her once more, Sera kicked him on the shins, as she blocked another attack from the girl. Sera did another round house but she knew they were getting the best of her.

She prepared to attack but a slight misstep caused her to be kicked in the jaw, she locked her knees preventing her from falling back, her shoulders were already slumped and she was getting weak. A couple of them attacked her head on as one of them held her back by her shoulders. As the two of them punched her on the stomach.

She dropped to her knees clutching her robes as she coughed blood. "My oh my, what a weak girl... I thought you were a lot stronger than this..." One of the men mocked. She was so disoriented she wasn't even sure who was talking anymore.

She saw Sari and Matsuri's lips were moving, they were probably shouting but her ears were already ringing, it was getting hopeless, but she knew she had to get up. She rolled and then pushed herself up even though every part of her body was protesting. She did her stance and this time she knew that there are a lot of holes in them, one false move and she could really die.

The three of them attacked simultaneously, she has problems with her reflexes but still she blocked their attacks, effectively, that is until she was kicked squarely on the chest. She gasped for air as she tried to buck up her knees. She opened her palms and attacked them, after all the best defence is offense especially in this situation.

She punched and kicked them non-stop she just had to keep going, she knew that she was already reaching her limit, she was already feeling worn out and she knew her movements started to slow down.

She punched the girl, but the man grabbed her arm refusing to let go, the other kicked the back of her knees causing her to fall forward.

They were laughing maniacally, she was going to die and she knew it. She just wished that Sari and Matsuri could escape, she just couldn't forgive herself if the both of them would die. The man pulled her head back and she saw the sword glinting under the sun. She then closed her eyes and prepared for the worst.

Author's note: Sorry it took me a very long time to update this story, i've been busy with my work and studies lately, anyway thanks for all those who read this so far. I sure hope that you guys stay tuned and please don't forget to leave your comments and suggestions. Thanks...