Chapter 25

The Calm before the Storm

Over the coming months my schedule became increasingly hectic; between the festival preparations, physical training with Temari and chakra management with Gaara, I was the busiest I'd ever been.

With encouragement the children and elders had begun to meet regularly in the garden to enjoy the flowers together. I felt a great sense of pride admiring the tree peonies snug and at home in their flowerbed. There was very little that could spoil the peace and yet I had the curious sensation of being watched from time to time. I told myself that I was just being silly – no one else had mentioned it.

Shiro was currently making colourful decorations under the shade of the house. Grandma Rooba was sharing an old folktale with Ayuta and Azuma. Toshie had borrowed my koto and was practising under the instruction of an enthusiastic Ongaku. There was singing and dancing in the garden each day followed by much debate and gossip.

"There should be a huge dance with everyone in the community taking part!" One Sunan woman insisted. "The girls can entertain with a fan dance and the boys with acrobatics."

"I can do backflips better than any boy,"Toshie complained.

"Which songs shall we sing?" Hiro piped up excitedly. "Lady Leaf, what do you think?"

I squirmed at the name, "I think we should learn all the songs and then have a vote at the end."

"But that'll take ages," Hiro moaned.

"Yes, but you have to remember this will be an annual event. I'm hoping that the festival will become as popular as the celebration of cherry blossoms. That means the songs and dances could change year on year. You have to have surprises to keep an audience happy, don't you?" The boy grinned and nodded before running to join Grandma Rooba's story.

I enjoyed listening to the different stories and takes on life that people had. To see young and old coming together like this reminded me of home. There was a village atmosphere here with laughter and joy something that had rarely been seen before. With each passing day more and more people came to join in and wanted to help. It was becoming the highlight of an otherwise dreadful year in the history of Sunagakure.

The evenings were much calmer. I was able to generate a barrier to protect the garden during the cold nights and this had occurred without incident. Although there was that one night when Shiro caught me setting up the barrier and believed I was being attacked. She tried to pull me away, and the chakra I'd built up pummelled into the nearby rock face. It took a little while to explain that one to my house keeper.

Gaara continued to train me although the term experimentation was more accurate. So far we'd concluded that as well as oak trees I could produce bushes, thorns, vines, ivy, in fact any form of vegetation that I could wish for. The Mokoton jutsu could be used in a variety of ways for defence as well as offensive attacks. I could control the wooden beams at will (with much practise) from any part of my body where I directed the chakra flow.

In the end learning how to use my new talent was quite fun. The fear and panic I had felt that day in the training grounds was like a bad dream. I understood now how my chakra network worked in tune with my body. I had to be careful not to overexert myself and above all not allow my emotions to influence the chakra. The latter piece of advice was the hardest to follow and I was all too aware of what could happen if I failed to keep to it. Somehow Gaara had managed to keep my little 'mishap' as a big secret and I was eternally grateful.

My favourite use of Mokuton was to create wooden beams from my feet which I could use to make ramps, rails and tracks to speed along. Having learnt how to use chakra for balance I could run along these aerial pathways with ease. I could create bridges across mountains, lakes and streams. The more I thought about it, the uses just seemed to be endless.

Gaara was always pushing me that little bit further I noticed. He was intrigued to find out how the sand and wood styles compared to one another. When I was ready to call it a day he'd already thought of another jutsu to try. Some of the ideas were quite useful for example the Moku Shouheki no Jutsuwhich allowed the user to create a half spherical barrier from wood. Other things such as using poison from particular plants for chemical warfare didn't sit very well with me. My instincts as a nurse were too strong, so I refused to reproduce plants for this purpose much to his annoyance.

Tonight the same shadowy figure was sitting on my steps again. He'd taken to visiting often in the evening recently. At first the exchanges were awkward and short – not on my part you understand. Gradually though the penny was beginning to drop and he was learning that it takes two people to have a conversation. Admittedly some topics were easier to discuss than others but it wasn't always the company he wanted. To just receive a little dose of social interaction helped him to explore the more puzzling aspects of his humanity. Above all else I think rediscovering his humanity was at the top of his list right now. Whatever Uzumaki had said during that fight it had changed Gaara's life.

I talked about my family, Konoha, books I'd read and haiku poems. Every so often the ninja asked questions and I answered them. Our friendship was not conventional and neither party cared, it didn't matter. But as much as we could both ignore the threat of Shukaku he never really went away. The rustle of sand which played in the background was a constant reminder.

"Naruto Uzumaki told me once there's a sand spirit sealed inside your body. What I don't get is why he becomes a raccoon dog of all things when he's released?"

Gaara raised his head a little. He looked so tired these days turquoise eyes drooping with exhaustion. He turned his back so it was leaning against the banister too and crossed his arms.I remembered how he could not sleep and felt it grossly unfair; especially as I fell heavily into bed each night straight into a deep slumber.

"Shukaku was a corrupted sand priest. The priests at the shrine knew a jutsu to transform themselves into tanuki as a disguise. Should the shrine be infiltrated by the enemy, it allowed them to escape without harm."

"Those priests sound pretty crafty if you ask me!"

"As a man, Shukaku was very irate. His memories are thick with violence and death, he enjoyed killing. When I was young controlling him was … difficult, he would not always obey commands. He made the sand lash out at his choosing. His victims blamed me and in return I hated them."

"It must have been hard."

"That was the way things were," Gaara shrugged.

"And now?" The ninja gave no reply and I smiled knowingly. "I've spotted your sand eye hiding behind the house watching what's going on. It's a lot more fun taking part than being an observer. Why don't you come and spend time with the villagers? You can help them prepare for the festival."

He blushed slightly at this, "So, you spotted me, eh?" He shook his head sadly at my suggestion, "My presence would only spoil their happiness." I was surprised at his reaction. For someone who wanted to be alone he was going to some lengths to be near others. Perhaps the need for humans to congregate in a social group was stronger than I thought.

"It won't be easy," I consented. "You know, Toshie asks about you now and again, even after what happened with the flowers. You've already took the first step and I'll stick up for you if you want."

"I have no need for your protection, Lady Leaf," he smirked. "But I am grateful for all you have done for my people."

"That's alright," I brushed off the compliment before doing a double take. "Don't start calling me that! That's Grandma Rooba's bad influence…it's like she's trying to make me into some kind of village idiot. I suppose you agree with that role?"

The deceased Kage's son deliberately remained tight lipped. After the time we had spent together I realised that he had a very subtle sense of humour.

"Anyway, I'll have to leave you, it's getting late," I apologised but he didn't seem to mind. As I walked back towards the house he delayed a little longer than usual. With the gourd on his back a gust of wind sent the tails of his cloak flapping behind him.

"Ambassador,"

"What is it?" I stretched with a yawn.

I could tell by the way he was standing around that there was something wrong. He was deliberating about whether to share something with me. There was a long pause as he stared at the floor before replying, "It is nothing important." I stayed a while longer giving him time but he slipped silently away in the direction of the Administration building.

"Are you sure there have been no deliveries this morning, Shiro?"

The young woman glanced back sympathetically the answer was still no. I flopped back into my chair and stared out the window feeling restless. It was pathetic to think the Ambassador of Konohagakure only lived for the post delivery from between nine and ten each morning. I craved for news about home devouring every correspondence from Lady Tsunade in seconds.

My imagination was in overdrive after Kankuro cruelly mentioned that Naruto had been badly hurt when trying to retrieve Sasuke. I immediately sent a card to the hospital asking how he was and whether my brother was coping. A while later I'd received a crumbled up note with the words:

Sorry, didn't mean to make you worry. Letters are not my style. Naoki is okay, you should write him sometime. Give the sand sibs my thanks they really saved our butts out there. When you visit, how about we all go out for some Ichiraku ramen?

- Naruto.

I couldn't count the number of letters I had sent to Naoki since I arrived in Suna and there had been no reply, not one. What did Naruto mean?

Shiro placed a cup of steaming tea onto the desk. I rested my chin on my hands as I complained loudly, "I can't help it. What if Kankuro is keeping letters from getting through? I'll kill him. If something has happened to mother or Naoki there won't be a damn thing I can do about it here! Maybe he hasn't sent news because he doesn't want me to worry. He should know by now that if he does that I worry anyway!"

My house keeper with her kind eyes tried to reassure me that everything would be okay. I wanted to believe her. I didn't deliberately go looking for a crisis everyday addicted to the thrill of drama. Maybe I was over reacting a little but it still didn't explain why Naoki never gave a response.

"I'll have to take a trip home anyway," I suddenly decided leaping away from the table. "It's been over a year and my contract hasn't been extended. I need to find out where I stand with the fifth Hokage."

Shiro watched me pacing up and down the room making a hole in the floor. I pulled down my hold-all from the top of the cupboard. What did I need? Clothes something smart to meet Master Homura and my new boss, water, rations, kunai and perhaps my plan for the festival – I could mention it, no harm in that. I remembered the wolf dog Grandma Rooba had sold to me it was still wrapped in brown paper at the back of a drawer. I resisted trying to pack much more as the lasting memory of my last trek through the desert was fresh in my mind. The ache of my joints and back had been agony for days afterwards.

I dressed quickly into a dark green tank top and loose khaki trousers. Around my shoulders I looped a brown shawl to protect me from the wind. A quick smear of oil on my chapped lips and I was ready to face the journey home.

Shiro again offered the steaming cup of tea coaxing me to sit down. I smiled and took the tea - it wouldn't hurt to delay for a few moments. It felt good to have an action plan and be on the move again. My nerves twitched with a curious mixture of excitement and dread. I was yearning to see my family again but the reception I'd receive from my neighbours was painful to think about. All the gossip and stories they must have told and me, hundreds of miles away unable to defend myself.

What would Naoki be up to? Probably chasing after Mother and making deliveries for the Yamanaka flower shop. I supposed even he might tire of such a mundane Saturday job after all this time. My brother's ninth birthday had come and gone, I would have to ask him about it. I knew a belated present wasn't going to make up for much and I worried that he might sulk for days.

My thoughts wondered whether to leave a note with Gaara and the others. I didn't want to bother them with details about an escort, and besides using the Mokuton I could probably make the journey alone in a day. Another sip of calming tea eased its way down my throat. It wasn't professional to just take off though…

I jolted back awake in an instant. My surroundings seemed a little blurry so, I rubbed my eyes furiously to clear my vision. The chair was too comfortable I suddenly felt like snuggling into it. Perhaps the organisation for the festival was taking its toll if I needed a nap in the afternoon! I laughed and walked over to the sink to splash my face with cold water. This didn't seem to have the shocking effect I expected as the sleepiness continued to grow. It was strange I felt so energised a moment ago. Now, my body was slowing down like I'd just eaten a full meal. My stomach ached as if it were bloated. There was a dizziness creeping in and the next moment I was falling.

Coming to my senses I woke up with a start. What the heck happened? I sat up with a throbbing head and parched mouth. There was a bitter powdery taste on the tongue and I spat trying to get rid of it. Looking about me I could see the sun low in the sky, it was well past noon. Shiro would worry like mad if she knew I'd fainted randomly. It was only then that I noticed my hands and legs were bound with rope. Eventually the cloud lifted and the full extent of my situation was becoming increasingly clear. I was slumped against the door and tied up in my own office. My immediate concern was for Shiro. Was there an assassin in the house?

When I breathed deeply to force calm I could hear voices from beyond the door. By tilting my head at a certain angle towards the key hole I could hear snippets of sound from the next room. I needed to know what was going on. Wiggling closer to the door I strained my ears trying to gather information.

"You can't just change your mind," one voice spoke with a sneer. "This was a cushy number which is more than you deserve." It sounded like a young man but it was muffled and disjointed. "Don't talk to me about morals just because things turn a little nasty. You've been playing this game for a long while. The terms and conditions were agreed. You signed the contract – so finish the job!"

Another voice lighter this time distinctly feminine, "I know what I agreed and I have followed my orders to the letter. Until today my performance has been impeccable." The second voice paused as the first mumbled something inaudibly. "I can not go through with what has been asked. There is no point in trying to pressurise me."

"You'll forfeit the remainder of the bargain, is that what you want? The male asked in a harsh tone.

"Please, there must a compromise." Again the male spoke quietly and I struggled to catch his words. "What harm could there be allowing the Ambassador to visit her family?" the female reasoned. "That is no justification for murder."

My eyes blinked, I didn't know who was behind the door. I only knew that they were talking about me, and if I wanted to see another sunrise I had to escape – fast!