Chapter 19

I impatiently crouched down infront of the old man and young ninja, they were going too slow for me and I couldn't leave them behinde. Neither of them seemed to get what I was doing so I looked over at Temari with an annoyed huff.

"Yuki is asking you to get on her back. It seems something is troubling her and we need to get there quicker." Temari eyes were full of concern.

I gave her a nod in agreement and looked at the two with bleeding eyes and whined a little bit.

"What about traps?" The elder seemed to ignore the fact that I wanted to hurry.

Knowing it would use up a lot of energy jumping back and forth I gave another frustrated sigh and shifted into my human form so that I could communicate with them better, "The two that took him are very arrogant. They wouldn't bother putting up traps this far away from the village. Now get on and lets hurry! There's no time and the two of you are worn out already. I mean no disrespect Honorable Elder but time is of essence."

"Why are you so concerned? What's going on!" Temari demanded.

I closed my eyes and looked away, shifting into my wolf form to avoid answering. I couldn't tell her that the scent of death on the air was mixed with Gaara's. I didn't think I would be able to speak the words. I crouched if front of the elders and genin once more and without anymore reluctance they climbed up on my back. I flicked my ear as the pulled my fur situating themselves. With Temari at my side we set off once more with renewed speed.

I had to adjust my pace to a slower one as we entered the forest that surrounded the desert. The scent was growing stronger as well as those from team Kikashi. After a while longer of running I stopped dead at the edge of a clearing almost throwing the two on my back off. Once I was freed of my passengers I shifted back and sprinted towards where I could see a small group of people.

The figured of the Granny Chiyo and Naruto came into view and it looked as though they were kneeling over Gaara. Sakura and Kikashi seemed to be injured but that could only mean that the scent of death was coming from...NO! I wouldn't accept it...not yet. Once I arrived on scene I knelt down next to Naruto and placed a hand on Gaara's cold cheek. He could leave everything he just accomplished.

"Yuki." Sakura's voice barely reached me.

"Don't count him out yet!" Naruto looked at me with determination.

"But..He..." I had to clear my throat a little, "he smells of death."

"You are the wolf demon from the hidden leaf aren't you?" Granny Chiyo's strained voice drug my attention away from the fallen Kazekage.

"Yea." My eyes stung as I tried not to cry and I tilted my head to the side in curiosity, "you too are smelling of death Lady Chiyo."

"It is a price I'm willing to pay for my village and now I must ask something of you. Do you love Gaara?" It must have been my imagination but I could have sworn that I heard a heart beat from Gaara.

"If by love you mean I wish to protect him above anyone else then yes I guess I love him." There was a small gasp from behind me as Matsuri and the others came onto the scene. I had to be going crazy, I looked down at Gaara and placed a hand on his chest and looked at the old lady in shock.

"Then look after him for me will you?" She looked down at Gaara as her own heart beat slowed with a smile on her face, "The future of the village hidden in the sand is in your hands now."

I could feel the tears I was holding back run down my cheek as I realized what she had done. She had traded her life for Gaara's and for that I could never be more thankful. I flinches as I suddenly felt a hand against my cheek and look down into the eyes of Gaara. He was really alive, though the stench of death still lingered on him.

"Why are you crying?" He winced as he sat up.

"You shouldn't get up too soon, you haven't recovered from the rigamortis yet!" That was Temari's voice. I hadn't realized how many people had gathered in the small time I had sat down next to the young Kazekage.

I smiled at him and shook my head a little and said quietly, "welcome back."

"Lord Gaara are you ok?" Matsuri called out.

Gaara looked around at the crowd that had assembled and nodded his head. This resulted in a girlish shreek by her and cheers from the crowd. I gave a small growl and she ran over to him and forced myself away from him side. I walked over to where Kikashi was and felt my legs give way. The normally distant ninja placed a comforting hand on my shoulder and gave it a squeeze. I didn't realize I was had moved until my arms were around Kikashi and I was hiding my face in his chest.

"It's all over now." His voice was quiet as he rubbed my back.

"No." I shook my head against his chest his familiar scent calming me, "It's only just begun."

With the help of Kankoro and Naruto Gaara was able to stand up, "Let everyone pray for Lady Chiyo and bid her farewell."

I bowed my head in silence with the rest of the villagers. I may not have known the old lady for long but I knew I would never forget her or what she had done. After the moment of silence Kikashi recapture my attention, "so you've decided?"

I turned to him and gave him a small nod. I would become a joint ninja so that I could look over Gaara, at least for half the year. Nothing like this would every happen to him again, not if I could help it.

"I'll let Lady Tsunade know once we return to the village. Once Gaara has healed and you've established your place then the start of your six months will begin. I'm sure lady Tsunade will agree with that."

"Thank you." I gave a small cough then spoke so that The sand siblings could hear me as well, "I will carry Gaara and Kikashi as far as the village Gates. "

"We can help Gaara back!" Matsuri and one of the other females that seemed to be in his fan club whined.

"That would be acceptable thank you." Gaara bowed his head to me shutting up the two whining girls up, their tune changed immediately once he spoke.

With a gasp from several of the villagers I shifted into my wolf form and laid down on the ground. Kankoro and Temari helped Gaara onto my back and Gai sensei helped Kikashi up. Both of the injured ninja grabbed onto my fur as I stood up. I was worn out from the run here but walking back at the pace of the villagers should be an easy enough task.

Temari, Kankoro and Naruto walked on either side of me as I lead the villagers home with their Kazekage. It took most of the remaining day to make our way back. I flattened my ears at the sound that greeted us. All of the villagers that had remained behind were awaiting their leaders return, once we were at the edge of the crowd I knelt down and let the two ridding upon my back down. Gai sensei helped Kikashi once more, Naruto and Kankoro helped support Gaara as he didn't have full use of his body yet.

"Wait." Gaara stopped the two shinobi aiding him and nodded towards the group carrying the remain of Lady Chiyo to go on ahead. Only then did he allow himself to fall in line with the procession. I made myself smaller and jumped on to Naruto's shoulder as we the walked by. It was too much effort to completely change back but adjusting size was easy. I could feel myself relax a little as I realized that the smell of death had almost completely faded from the young Kazekage.

Every once I a while on our way to his office he would look over at me his eyes filled with questions. I would wag my tail in response to these look and he would give a small sigh. I knew he wished to speak with me but I wasn't ready yet. If he heard the conversation between Lady Chiyo and myself I don't think I could bear the rejection right now. The boys gently sat Gaara in the chair behind the Kazekage's desk once we arrived at out destination.

"You're leaving already?" Temari seemed shocked.

"Yes, If the Akatsuki made it this far into the sand then I'm worried about our own village." Kikashi answered.

"But you're injuries, surely you should rest before you go." That was Ibiki this time.

"I have comrades that I can rely on to get me there." He seemed ragged as he spoke, "Oh Neji there's a folder in by bag can get it for me?" He looked over at Neji, who happened to be the closest to him.

Neji gave a small nod and proceeded to get the folder Kikashi spoke of out of his pack, "Hand it to Gaara please. Since Yuki has accepted the unique request that he has made this is the information he'll need to keep her in line." He gave a playful look at me.

I looked at him from my perch on Gaara's desk and gave him a wolfish grin, teeth bared, and wagged my tail slightly.

"So you've decided have you." Gaara reached out to pat my head then hesitated for a second unsure if his actions would be deemed rude of not.

I gave a sigh and leaned to the direction his hand was, just this once I would allow it.

"I've got a scar from the last time I tried that." Gai muttered as he looked at Gaara.

"You'd better take care of her." Kikashi's voice was fatherly as he said this which caused Naruto and Sakura to laugh.

"Once I've washed up let's visit Lady Chiyo's grave before you depart." Gaara suggested.

I hopped off the desks and adjusted my size so that I stood at Gaara's hip level. He tried to stand up on his own but decided to accept my help. He could walk better now but his balance wasn't very well just yet. I walked next to him for support as we made our way down the hall and to his room, once inside I hopped onto his bed and curled up to wait for him.

Elder Ebizo was standing at the grave of his sister when we arrived.

"She said she didn't want a headstone whenever she passed. I decided to go against her wishes thinking that she might want someplace to be remembered by" The brother of the fallen Lady Chiyo spoke as we approached the head stone.

After a moment of silence at the head stone the others walked off, leaving Naruto and Sakura to stand alone by the grave.

"Sakura, Naruto we really should be going!" Lee's voice cut through the silence as we headed towards the entrance of the village to see off the leaf shinobi.

Gaara didn't need any help by now my I still remained by his side as we walked brushing slightly against his leg every now and then. He would react to the by placing a hand gently on my back, and give me a quizzical look.

Once at the entrance everyone began their farewells, until it came to Naruto.

"Well I guess this is the part where we're supposed to shake hands and get all choked up, but lets just leave it," Naruto paused mid sentence as Gaara reached out his hand.

Using some of his sand Gaara gently coaxed Naruto's hand to his and shook his hand with a smile.

"Whenever we can we'll send Kiba with some of you're things. I'm sure he's gonna be upset you didn't say good bye before you left." Sakura spoke knelling to look in my eyes as she did. I stepped forward a bit allowing her to wrap her arms around my in a hug.

"Don't give him too much trouble." Naruto smiled at me and I stepped towards him for a hug as well.

I wagged my tail and gave a small yip at Kikashi. It pained my heart a little to know that I wouldn't see them for a while but I knew the decision I was making was the right one. The sand sibling turned and walked back into the village as I sat down and watched my comrades fade away into the dessert.

It had been a week since Gaara had returned to the village and I had successfully avoided him that entire time. In the mornings I would hide on top the rocks that overlooked the training grounds and watch over him as he trained with Matsuri. Only once he had arrived back to his home would split my time between learning the scents of the villagers and playing with the children that had lost members of their family in the recent attack on the village.

In this time frame I had barely changed back into my human form, I also hadn't slept much either. My lack of sleep is what finally got me found out. I was watching Gaara and Matsuri train this morning. It seemed that something was off about their usual rutien, or at least on Gaara's end there seemed to be. I edged just a little closer to get a better look and that is how I got caught.

Gaara spotted me and ran after me as I abandoned my hiding spot. I'm not entirely sure why I was running from him I just knew I didn't want to have to explain myself either.

"Leave big sister Yuki alone!" I paused in my tracks and a child jumped in between Gaara and me.

"I'm not going to hurt her. I just need to speak with her is all." Gaara looked down at the child and smiled slightly.

I gave a small sigh, even though I wanted to I knew that I should face him. I shifted into my human form and winced slightly from the scent coming from myself. I really needed a shower.

"It's ok we were just playing a game of tag." I smiled at the child who had protected me, "But now I've been caught."

The child looked between me and Gaara, "You're not gonna take her away are you?"

I couldn't help but laugh a little at the look on Gaara's face. It was a mix between concern and confusion, "I don't know if I'll be back tonight but tomorrow I should be back for sure." I patted my young protectors head.

"We'll be waiting big sister!" He smiled at me and ran off to join his friends.

"Shower first then we'll talk ok?" I smiled at Gaara and changed back into my wolf form.

"Do I have a choice?"

I shook me head at him and was greeted with a sigh. I flattened my ears a little feeling as though I had upset him, and then let out a yip as I was picked up by him. He wasn't going to give me a change to run away, and if I made myself bigger I risked hurting him.

"Lord Gaara!" That was Matsuri's voice.

"We'll continue training in a couple days. I've got a few things to take care of." Gaara's voice was stern as he spoke to her. I could feel a small growl escape me as she walked closer, from watching these two train I could tell that the girl had feeling for her teacher. Gaara was as hard to read as ever so I couldn't tell if he returned them or not.

"This is her fault isn't it?" She glared at me.

I returned her glare by baring my fangs, her look of anger turned to fear. "That doesn't concern you. Go train with Kankoro today, he'll let me know if you don't show up."

He spoke as he walked away. I heard her mumble an agreement, curious I looked up at my captor.

"Oh good you've found her!" Temari greeted us as we entered the building.

Gaara answered her with a nod and continued walking towards his room. It could be my imagination but it seemed as if he was worried about something. I gave a small whine at him and he looked down at me with unreadable eyes. I flattened my ears in concern as he sat me down inside his room, "I'll be in my office when you're done." Before I could do anything he tuned his back closing the door as he walked away.