Chapter 21

Shikkan

"She's gone?" Gaara's mind felt numb. He was sure his heart had stopped beating.

"Yes, someone said they saw her heading south out into the desert with a small tank filled with green goo," Kankuro's hands waved above his head wildly as he explained.

She… left. He didn't hear anything else that Kankuro said. She left. A small laugh escaped his lips.

"G-Gaara?" Kankuro looked at him concernedly.

"I see. Thank you for reporting in. Finish helping with the setup. I'm going to go back to the office and start the report to get repairs done on the hospital," he instructed then left his brother standing there bewildered.

Walking through the village he kept his eyes front and didn't look around. People walked along smiling and laughing, but he couldn't hear anything. He couldn't feel anything. Stopping outside the Kazekage office he looked up at the sky. Had blue always looked so dull?

"Gaara!"

He turned toward his sister as she ran up to him, stopping she pointed towards the village gate. "Go after her Gaara!"

"Go… after her? Why?" Gaara was sure he'd lost the feeling even in his toes. He'd have to get that checked out later.

"Why? Because she's important to you!" Temari shouted drawing people's attention, but she didn't seem to care. "You need to go after her!"

"She left of her own accord. Why do I need to go after her?" He couldn't even feel the heat from the sun. Had the desert always been this cold?

Temari's mouth dropped open at his statement. "You went after her last time."

"Because she was kidnapped, and we still needed her. The village is cured of the virus and her job's done. There's no reason to go after her." His voice was flat and emotionless. "I need to do paperwork."

Temari clenched her fist then took a deep breath. "I'm sorry Gaara."

"For wha—"

She slugged him with all her might knocking him to the ground. He stared up at his big sister shocked. Not once in all his life had she ever hit him, granted he probably scared her too much when they were young, but still. Temari bent down, grabbed the front of his shirt and shook him violently.

"What is wrong with you? I thought you cared about her! You've defended her and protected her ever since she came to the village. You broke so many rules up to this point and now's when you choose to act like this?"

People around them were staring. "Temari—"

"No! Shut up and listen." His sister's eyes filled with tears. "She's an annoying, obnoxious woman, but ever since she came… I've never seen you so happy."

The tears fell from her face onto Gaara's. He'd never seen Temari cry, he didn't know what to do.

"And if you don't… go after her now… I have a terrible feeling… that she may never come back," she said through sobs. "You know I was so happy when you congratulated me and… I really want that for you too… So stop acting like an idiot and go after her! Are you ok with never seeing her again?"

His chest hurt. It felt like it was constricting and caving in.

"Are you ok with her running off? What if she never returns? What if she die—"

Gaara lightly touched her hand. He wasn't sure what face he was making, but his big sister's eyes widened and she slowly released his shirt. She stood up and wiped away her tears before offering him a hand up.

"You know," he took a deep breath, "the council's going to flip if I leave the village."

"Screw those old crows. I'll take care of them. Now get going!" Temari pushed him toward the village entrance.

Gaara took off without another word and didn't look back. Wind whistled around his ears as he dodged people and made his way to the walls. The ninjas guarding the entrance turned toward him as he approached, but he didn't slow down.

"Lord Kazekage?"

"I'll be back!" He shouted as he flew by them and through the tall walls that led to the outside. He skidded to a halt next to the table where the ninja who checked passports, shot out of his seat at Gaara's sudden appearance.

"L-l-lord Kazekage!"

"A woman and a beast came through here. Which way did they go?"

The ninja pointed direct south and Gaara took off leaving him confused. A little ways away he stopped and inspected the ground. Yoki wasn't a light creature; Gaara noted four evenly spaced claw marks in the dry cracked earth. Tracks. He took off following the marks. Faster. He gathered his chakra into his feet and sped up; stopping only now and then to check the direction they'd gone. Eventually, the hard-packed dirt changed to rolling sand. He was nearing the middle of the desert. He stopped when he reached the sand dunes. The wind had blown away the tracks.

"No!" He slammed his fist into the ground and thought about what course of action he could take. Flying? No, that takes up too much chakra and if I'm in for a battle with Shikkan, I need to conserve it. Where are you Mizu? He was running out of time, Mizu had all the pieces of Shikkan now and if she opened that container… A thought came to mind and Gaara stuck his fingers into the sand. He fused a small amount of his chakra into it and reached out through the sand, looking, searching for any sign of someone's life-force.

There! About five miles ahead he found two life forces trudging through the sand, a human sized one and a large one. Activating his chakra and also using the sand beneath him, he propelled himself through the dunes. Faster! Faster! He didn't know how fast he was going, but he didn't stop. Finally, he saw them. They'd stopped. Mizu kneeled in the sand with her back to him.

His voice ripped from his throat before he could stop himself. "MIZUUU!"

She turned to him, fear on her face and shouted back at him. "NO! Stay back!"

Yoki bound his way and before he could reach Mizu the great beast blocked his path.

"Out of my way Yoki!" Gaara's sand whirled around him, prepared to fight the lion if need be.

"Stay back boy, it's already too late," the lion warned him.

A split second later, the goop burst out of the tank next to Mizu and engulfed her. Gaara's heart stopped.

"NOOOOO!"

The lion grabbed his collar with his teeth and jumped, sending them both a distance away.

"Stop, release me!" Gaara blasted Yoki off him and tried to run back to Mizu, but he stopped his mouth dropping in horror.

The goop had engulfed Mizu, she was standing in it, looking at him calmly and smiled at him as if to say, "it's fine." It entered her skin fusing with her, she bent over clutching her arms in pain and then she dissolved. The goop exploded. It grew larger and larger, wiggling and taking shape, but Mizu was gone. Gaara's voice caught in his throat and then in one heart wrenching cry he let all his anger and sorrow out. She's gone. She's gone. She's gone.

The goo oozed and shifted taking form. Yoki stepped in front of Gaara preparing for battle. Gaara's legs gave out underneath him and all he could do was stare at his hands. She's gone… I couldn't save her… I couldn't save the person I cared for again. The goop solidified into a jellylike substance and took shape as a giant rat. It let out a roar, but Gaara's ears were already ringing, blocking everything out. Yoki charged it taking a bite out of the rat's leg. Mizu… Goop extended out from the rat knocking Yoki away, in the process he crashed into Gaara who slammed into the dune behind him. His ears reverberated and his vision went dark.

The next thing he knew he was bent over in the darkness of his mind. He could feel Shukaku's presence, but he didn't care.

"Kekekeke, look at you getting all shaken up over that woman's death."

Gaara gazed at his reflection in the dark pool of his inner mind. The person staring back at him wasn't impressive; he wasn't a hero or a great leader. He hadn't even been able to protect one person.

"Maybe I'll go on a rampage while you're moping."

He felt cold. He wished Mizu had never come to the village, and then he wouldn't have to feel this way. They could have figured out the virus without her.

"Seriously? You're getting so worked up over that wench?"

"Don't you dare call her that!" He stood up and glared at the giant tanuki. A strange sensation occurred as his emotions burst out of him and blasted at Shukaku. The tailed-beast crashed into the wall of his mind. "DON'T EVER CALL HER THAT!"

"Geesh, if you like her so much why aren't you trying to save her?" Shukaku shook off his attack.

"She's dead!" His voice broke when he said it.

"Greif you're dumb. She's not dead yet."

Gaara stopped and looked up at Shukaku; he felt a small sense of hope. "What do you mean?"

"Ha! Like I'll—"

"TELL ME!"

Gaara's emotions pinned Shukaku to the ground, and he looked very uncomfortable. He jumped up onto the beast's nose and glared down at him.

"Tell me," the blood lust he emanated made even Shukaku pause.

"Hmm, well, I might be willing to, if you say please." The beast snickered.

"PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE—" Each please slammed a wave of emotion into the creature.

"OK ,OK! Stop, stop it. You're giving me a headache." His eyes lulled as he fought against Gaara's bombardment. "Right now she and that creature are fused together. You need to jump into it, fuse your chakra throughout her and pull her out. Simple right? Except touching that thing will leave you screaming in pain like a child. Kekekeke. You need to make it to the core. Kekekeke you'll probably die before you make it there."

"I don't care!"

Gaara's eyes flew open, and he struggled to sit up. Yoki had been working on Shikkan while he'd been knocked out. He was tearing at it bit, by bit. Slowly, but surely with each bite and scratch the rat was being eaten away. If he kills Shikkan, Mizu will die! Gaara forced himself to his feet and bolted right at Shikkan.

"What are you doing? Stay back!" The lion yelled at him and in his distraction Shikkan landed a hit sending him airborne.

Gaara reached out and touched Shikkan. His hand burned. Every nerve ending screamed at him and the pain resounded up his arm. No. NO! I won't back down! Gaara stuck his other hand into the jello and he almost passed out from the searing pain. Shukaku had been right. This was the worst physical pain he'd ever experience in his life. It was like someone was burning him, stabbing him, clawing at his face, pricking him with needles, and biting at his skin all at the same time. He didn't know if he could dive all the way in and stay sane.

Thump, thump, thump.

Mizu! He could feel her life beating inside the creature. The rat tossed him off before he could do anything else and he landed on his back in the sand, winded from the impact. The skin on his hands and forearms peeled away revealing the muscles.

"Stay back boy!" The lion roared and jumped onto the rat's back. He bit into the rat; Yoki tore off one of its ears with his teeth, green blood sprayed out of the wound.

Gaara stood up his body shaking from the pain, gritting his teeth he took a step back getting into a runners position. He pushed off the ground and his sand shot up and thrust him into the air above the rat. He fell, onto its back and through into its stomach. His sand cloak dissolved instantly. Everything was on fire, his mind, his body. He couldn't see, he couldn't breathe. No, stop! Make it stop! The pain was so intense he wanted to die just to make it end. Stop! Thin arms wrapped around him bringing him back to his senses. He tried to open his eyes, but they burned too badly.

Mizu… No! Stay awake! He could feel her tugging at him, trying to push him out of Shikkan. Reaching forward he wrapped his arms around what he thought was her body. She yanked at his arms and tried to shove him away. NO! I'm not letting go. He channeled as much of his chakra into her as he could. She pounded on his arms, igniting the pain, but he pulled her closer refusing to let her go. A minute in this hell was excruciating, but he wasn't leaving until he brought her back with him. Pulling on her, he hoped gravity would drag them down. The goo messed up his sense of direction. Which way was up? He pulled, she resisted, and he infused more chakra. I'm not letting you go! I refuse! Mizu!

Plop. His back hit the sand, and he coughed, his body was shaking from the pain and when he tried to open his eyes they burned. Through a haze he could barely see the rat thrashing above him and fighting Yoki. Mizu? What about Mizu? He felt something in his arms and looked down. His heart almost burst when he found her green eyes staring back at him. She wasn't fully whole though, her skin tone was green and transparent. His chakra was the only thing keeping her stable.

Shikkan screamed and some of his goop extended towards them, seeking out Mizu. Oh, no you don't! I'm not Gaara of the Desert for nothing. With the last of his chakra the sand around them burst up and forced the giant rat back. Yoki didn't hesitate at this chance, he attack Shikkan without reserve, biting, slaying and devouring the beast. Soon Shikkan's power dwindled, and he grew smaller and smaller. Until Yoki took his last bite at the beast's head finishing him. There was nothing left of the goop, Yoki had devoured it all.

Mizu's skin returned to a normal color, she looked at her hand in amazement. Yoki trotted over to them bringing Mizu's pack.

"Get off the boy Mizu and put some clothes on." The Lion dropped her bag next to them.

Gaara was in too much pain to feel excited about the fact that Shikkan had melted their clothes, especially since he'd melted most of Gaara's skin off. His eyes were burning too badly to see well. Mizu slowly got off him and hid behind Yoki to change. Yoki bent over and breathed onto Gaara. Painfully, his skin grew back until it fully healed. However, his clothes did not return. Mizu walked around Yoki, dressed and eyes adverted, she held out a cloak to him. Gaara flinched when he moved, still tender and sore despite Yoki's healing. He took the cloth from her and draped it over him for now. He'd have to tie around him when he had the strength to stand.

"Stubborn boy." The Lion nuzzled him affectionately.

Mizu stood there silently, not looking at him.

"I'll leave you two for a bit." Yoki trotted away to give them privacy.

"Mizu—"

She dove to his side and slapped him in the face which hurt because his skin was still raw. Why are women hitting me today? She pounded her fists on his shoulders, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"That's not fair!" He shouted at her.

"You're an idiot! Why did you come after me? You almost died…," she sobbed.

He was angry. Grabbing her shoulders he shook her because he didn't know how else to express it. He was so weak that he barely moved her. "That is not fair! You asked me multiple times to trust you and I answered without hesitation, but when I promised to save you… Why couldn't you trust me?"

"I've lived with the resolution for over 500 years that I would die! I didn't want you to die too…" She pounded her fist on his chest. "So I left! Why did you come after me?"

"Because I love you!"

She stopped hitting him and sniffed. "You love me?"

"I… I think so? I don't know. I don't know you that well yet. I've only known you for a few weeks! But I want to know you. I want you to stay, I'm happier when you're around. Even when you're teasing me or making fun of me, I'm happy just to be with you. The way you laugh and smile, the way you look when you concentrate on something, that mischievous look in your eyes when you're waiting for me to understand a joke, I like all of that about you. Even just hearing you say something so mundane like 'Welcome Home' made me want to cry from joy. So when I heard you left… the world felt dull! If you were going to make me feel this way and then leave, it would have been better if I never met you, but I don't regret meeting you. I would have regretted not trying to save you. So, please… please don't leave. Stay with me. I want to know more about you. I want to know if this weird tightening in my chest every time you're near me is love. Please stay?"

Mizu reached up and brushed the tears from his cheeks, he leaned forward and his bangs brushed her forehead. He paused, his heart pounding loudly in his chest, and he looked away from her feeling awkward.

"What?" She asked softly.

"I… want to kiss you, but I'm not sure if that's ok?"

Mizu's face softened, and she reached up taking his head in her hands, pulling him closer she pressed her lips against his. Soft, warm and… dry? He realized his lips were cracked from the heat and sand, but despite the roughness she didn't push him away. She pulled away, her eyes half closed and her iris's sparkled. Not enough. Without thinking, he bent down to kiss her again; she returned it. They lingered until she pulled away again and looked away from him, breathless. Her soft hands still cupped his face. He put his hand on the small of her back and pulled her close.

"Stay with me, please?"

She looked back at him, her face was flushed. "Ok."

He went in for another kiss. Ah, I could get addicted to this.

Hey all! I stayed up until 3 a.m. to write this chapter. I couldn't get it out of my head. I may have just been tired, but it had me in tears at points. For those of you that are enjoying Gaara and Mizu's story fear not! This is not the end of the road for them. I have lots more to come. So, until next chapter!