Hello everyone! So sorry about not updating as quickly as I normally do, but I have several valid excuses:

1.) Winter break is not relaxing and writing-friendly when I am running all over the place trying to visit friends and family members and attend family gatherings and holiday parties and trying to catch up on some cable shows (since I don't have any in my apartment :P) and working and trying to get some sleep in there somewhere. I think that I was busier over break than I was during school. Speaking of school...

2.) School started up again (Boo!!! T-T) and I can already tell that this quarter is going to be...interesting. I can see many harsh migraines in my future. Thank God I have a gigantic bottle of Ibuprofin!

3.) This reason is super cheesy but it's true nonetheless. My horse, Molly, is really the one who got me started on this story; Kaen is based a lot off of her, and being around her and interacting with her inspires me with this story. Anyways, she lives at school with me and since I was at home over break, away from her, for almost two weeks, I didn't have her horsey-inspirational powers to work with. But now that I'm back and with her again, I should be able to get back on track!

Anyways, so there are my reasons for not updating super-fast! But I worked my booty off today finishing this chappie just for all of you because I love you all so much, especially when you leave me a review (hint, hint ;D)!!!

Anyways, enough talk, let's get to the chapter! I hope you like it! Let me know your thoughts, I always love hearing them!!!

Thanks!

-Keita

A Flame in the Desert

-14-

Into the Desert

She walked away from Temari's apartment and decided to try searching for Gaara in his office first, since that was the closest. Somehow she didn't think she would find him there, but she wanted to check anyways to save herself a trip back in case he was there.

She nimbly sprang up the wooden stairs that led to his office, taking two at a time. She knocked at his door once she had reached it, waited for a few seconds, and after no answer followed her knock, she tentatively opened the door and peered around the office. It was empty, as she had predicted.

She was about to leave when something glistened and caught her eye. She stopped to see what it was. It was one of the many artifacts that were scattered around the office and it was sitting on one of the shelves of a bookcase. It was a large carved silver disc; it had intricate designs around the outer edges and winding their way in towards the center, which had a different image engraved into it. The center illustration depicted a powerful-looking horse rearing up in a fighting stance while its rider wielded a large sword and wore an equally fierce expression on his face.

Just like Gaara imagines Kaen will be, she thought. Maybe this piece is what made him want a horse like Kaen in the first place?

She traced the figures lightly, smiling fondly.

She snapped out of her reverie and, remembering why she had run up to the Kazekage's office in the first place, strode out, making sure to shut the doors behind her.

She decided to try the next obvious place, the barn roof. She walked leisurely through the village, kicking up sand as she did. She had come to like it in the desert. It lacked some things that the Waterfall Village and the surrounding area had, such as rivers, grass and abundant plant life in general, the variety of animal species and birds…she could go on.

But the desert had its charms too. There was something mysterious and alluring about the desert. The way the landscape could change overnight when the wind shifted the sand dunes; she could wake up to surroundings that were totally different from those she had fallen asleep in. There were the few plants, rugged and not really that pretty, but that amazed her with their ability to survive in such harsh surroundings. The wild animals that she had seen, snakes and lizards mostly, had been sources of interest and amusement to her and the children; there weren't many snakes and no lizards in the more temperate regions where she came from.

She was so deeply engrossed in these thoughts that she didn't even notice right away when the very object of her search had silently fallen into step beside her. In his dark clothing, he blended well with the shadows.

"Where are you going so determinedly?" he asked her in a low voice, so as not to startle her too badly.

Still, though, she jumped when he spoke and turned to face him. "I was actually trying to find you," she said, "I need to speak with you. And now that you've done the hard part of finding you for me, I can cut to the chase. I'm taking Kaen into the desert tomorrow for some pretty intensive training, and I need you to come with me."

He stopped walking. "You're doing what, and you need me why?"

She sighed exasperatedly. "I'm taking Kaen, your horse, into the desert for training. I need you to come with me for several reasons."

"Those being…?"

"The main one being so that I won't get lost out there and either go totally insane living off of scrub plants and cacti or just get baked to a crispy."

"Well, if that's all, then take one of the other horse masters or an assistant trainer," he replied.

"You didn't let me finish my reasons," She put a hand on her hip. "If it was only a matter of needing a guide then I would take someone else. However, unless you want to relinquish your ability to ride Kaen to a horse master, trainer or groom, then it needs to be you." She finished.

"I can't just leave!" he protested. "I'm the Kazekage, I have work to do! I can't just pick up and head out into the desert for some undetermined period of time!"

She sighed. "I've already told you that, as Kaen's rider, you play an important role in the training process that no other person can fulfill. I know that you're needed here in the village and I understand why you can't just leave on a whim, and like I said, if there was anyone else who could do what I need you to do, then I would ask them. But there isn't; it has to be you."

It was his turn to sigh. He turned his black-rimmed eyes to the ground thoughtfully, then looked back at Aimi's expectant face. He shrugged. "Alright, you win; I'll go into the desert with you."

The girl grinned. "Good; we're leaving at dawn tomorrow, so be ready." She was about to walk off towards the barn and her bed when his voice stopped her.

"Aimi," she turned to him, "Is there any other reason that you're insisting that I come with you on this little horse training quest of yours?" He had a devilish gleam in his eye as he said it.

She was grateful that it was dark enough to hide her blush. "Um, n-no…just for Kaen…" She walked away quickly after that.

Gaara watched the young horse master go, her black hair streaming out behind her. When she was gone from his sight, he turned and walked back to his own apartment, thinking about what he had just agreed to.

I'm going to be out in the desert with her, alone except for the horses, for who knows how long…I guess it could get interesting.

He was up and at the barn before dawn. Aimi had already been up for a few hours preparing the horses – they were each riding a horse and Aimi was going to pony-lead Kaen alongside her mount – and packing up some supplies in the saddlebags.

Kaen was awake and alert; his ears were like two radars flickering in every which direction. Gaara was impressed with his horse's much-improved behavior, for it wasn't that long ago that the flaming colt would be trying to lash out at anyone and everyone while having a fearsome look on his face.

Gaara took the two horses that they were going to be riding – one named Hoshi, who was so dark brown that he was nearly black and who had a white star on his forehead, and the other named Tsunami, who was a glistening sorrel color with four white stockings extending up each of his slender legs – and he led them out of the barn to stand and wait while Aimi walked Kaen out of his stall.

The redhead held onto Hoshi while Aimi mounted him, holding onto Kaen's lead rope with one hand while gathering the reins in her other hand. When he was sure that she was secure, he let go of her horse and he easily climbed into the saddle on Tsunami's back.

Kaen pranced during the entire walk to the gates of the village. When Gaara gave the command to open the gates, exposing the vast stretch of desert all around them, Aimi leaned over and whispered a few words to the spirited colt, instantly quieting him.

The two humans and three horses simply stood for a few moments, taking in the scene before them. The sun was just beginning to break over the horizon.

Aimi turned to her partner. "Ready?" she asked, with an adventurous sparkle in her pearly blue eyes.

He nodded in reply, unable to help a tiny grin at her eagerness.

"Go!" she shouted to Hoshi, who was only too willing to comply.

The dark young horse literally took a leaping start, pushing off with his powerful hind legs, propelling them forward. Kaen needed no urging either; the red-gold colt was in perfect sync with the other horse and matched him stride for vigorous stride.

Gaara gave Tsunami a free rein, and in a few lengthy strides, the white-legged horse had caught up to his companions and was effortlessly matching their speed.

Aimi couldn't help letting a huge smile break over her face and closing her eyes as the wind created by her mount's speed blew through her long, dark hair. She could feel the power seeping off of the magnificent animals as they flew across the sand, and she loved it.

Gaara looked over at Aimi and saw the look of pure bliss that had taken over her features. She really loves this, he thought, smiling to himself.

They allowed the horses to run for a little while longer, and then they slowly drew them down to a light canter, then a springy trot, and finally, an energetic walk. The horses' coats glistened with sweat and their nostrils flared, but Aimi could feel that they were far from spent and they still had huge reserves of energy that hadn't even been tapped yet.

After some time, the dark-haired horse master turned to her "guide". "Alright, we should head for the nearest oasis. We'll camp there while we're out here."

Gaara nodded in agreement. "There's one further out in that direction," he pointed westward, "We should be able to make it there before nightfall."

"Perfect," Aimi said as she watched him, noticing how the sunlight lit up his red hair and when he moved, it looked like tongues of fire dancing.

They rode on easily for the rest of the day, and, just as Gaara had predicted, they reached the oasis just as the first streaks of violet were able to be seen in the sky.

The oasis was beautiful; there was a large pond full of crystal clear water and palm trees grew thickly around the water's edge, and other shrubs and scrubby desert bushes grew around the surrounding area. It was almost like some secret, magical place, hidden in the middle of the harshest landscape imaginable. Aimi found it quite breathtaking.

The pair dismounted their horses and led them over to drink from the fresh spring; they also bent down to drink the water that they managed to cup in their hands.

Once everyone had satisfied their thirst, Gaara and Aimi set to work getting the horses ready for the night. They removed the saddles and bridles from Hoshi and Tsunami, rubbed all three horses down with wet cloths, brushed them and fed them.

After they were finished with the horses, who were now all standing quietly – even Kaen – the horse master and the Kazekage made their own preparations for the night.

Gaara went to find kindling for a fire, while Aimi went to the spring to "shower"; he secretly wondered how she was going to manage that.

Aimi walked to the spring's edge, took off her shoes and stripped down to her underwear, then walked into the water until she was knee-deep in it. Taking the small travel cup that she had from her years of traveling all over the lands to train horses, she filled it with the water and dumped it over her head, savoring the feel of the lukewarm water running down her tired body.

Gaara had not only gathered more than enough wood to keep their fire going through the night, but he had also gotten the fire started and had unpacked their sleeping mats. He sat down and poked at the fire, waiting for her to return. When she didn't, he decided to go and look for her.

She was still in the spring, except now she was lying back, propped up on her elbows, eyes closed languidly, letting the water soak into her dry-feeling skin. This is like paradise, she mused to herself, All we need are some tiki torches and one of those steel drums playing.

He came to an abrupt halt when he caught sight of her in the spring. His heart began to pound and he felt a strange fluttery sensation in his stomach as he watched her rooted to the spot. With some difficulty, he managed to snap out of his trance-like state after convincing himself that it was a bit perverted to be hiding in the bushes watching her while she bathed.

"Aimi?" he called her, making it seem as though he had been searching for her and had just walked over to his current location.

"Yeah?" she replied dreamily, still lost in her paradise fantasy.

"Are you alright?"

"Mm-hmm…never better," Was her response.

"Okay…I was just making sure." He turned to leave.

"This water is perfect," she said, making him pause. "You should come in. Besides, it's not really like paradise vacation if there's no one else to talk to."

He walked slowly to the water's edge, close but not too close to where she still sat stretched out, partially submerged in the clear water. He tentatively stripped off his clothing until he was down to his shorts, and then stepped into the water. He sat down several yards away from her, not wanting to seem imposing.

They sat in silence for a couple minutes before she finally broke it by asking, "Doesn't this feel absolutely amazing?"

He nodded quietly, before remembering that her eyes were closed and responding verbally. "Yeah, after riding all day in the heat, this is certainly a nice way to relax."

She cracked one hazy blue eye open to look at him. "This goes far above and beyond just relaxing; this is like heaven," She closed her eye again, sighing deeply, "We should do this every night."